By India McCarty
Lawmakers across the country debate banning cellphones in schools, and it looks like most Americans support the idea.
“Today, 74% of U.S. adults say they would support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class, up from 68% last fall,” a survey from Pew Research Center stated, adding that support is growing all the time.
The survey continued, “More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.”
When asked how they think a cellphone ban would affect kids, those surveyed said it would “positively impact students’ social skills, grades and behavior in class.”
While there is no national legislation in place regarding cellphone bans in schools, many states have implemented their own regulations. New York City Public Schools recently announced their intent to not only ban cellphones but any “internet-enabled” devices, such as tablets and smartwatches.
“As an educator and a parent, I have seen firsthand how constant access to cell phones in the classroom distracts from learning, divides attention, and significantly impacts our students’ mental health, inside schools and at home,” New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said in a statement. “I am proud to be introducing a policy that takes input from unions and advocacy groups, families, community members, and our students into account.”
Related: Is Everyone in Favor of School Cell Phone Bans?
Texas has also banned phones from schools on a state level, but Local State Representative Caroline Fairly told Texas’ KFDA News Channel 10, “We have made it where we have allowed as much local control, so school districts get to decide how they implement it. They get to decide the discipline on this policy. There is an exception for medical needs and… disabilities.”
These bans are especially relevant following the recent research publication that has found that teens who own a smartphone before 13 are more likely to have worse mental health.
“The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world,” Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study’s authors, told ABC News.
She continued, “Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things.”
While some still disagree with the idea that cellphones should be banned in schools, Pew Research’s latest study shows that most Americans understand the importance of getting phones out of schools and letting children concentrate on learning.
Read Next: Students Praise School Phone Ban: ‘My Attention Has Skyrocketed’
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