Our Support for a Smartphone Ban in Schools
Legislators in New York, including Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, are considering smartphone bans in schools to reduce distractions in the classroom and help improve children’s mental health. At least 14 other states have already done so, too.
We believe smartphones have done more to connect people with information than any other technological advancement this century, and UNESCO found that smartphones can be essential educational tools especially for low-income communities. Still, powerful devices can provide opportunities for distraction, and smartphones have become an obstacle to learning during the school day.
This is why Tech:NYC supports an initiative to ban smartphones in schools.
Before a ban takes effect, however, lawmakers and school officials must answer a few questions around storage, enforcement, and parental communication to ensure that such an initiative can be effectively implemented.
Storage: Will schools collect smartphones at the start of each day? Will students keep their smartphones in locked pouches? Once a method has been determined, how can schools obtain such storage devices in a way that doesn’t burden school finances or lead to a complicated procurement system?
Enforcement: How will schools discipline students for using a phone, and what protections will be put in place to prevent biased punishment or the permanent confiscation of devices?
Emergency communications: How will schools enable parents and children to contact each other in emergencies?
At the same time, digital-based skills are increasingly critical in our society, and technology can help kids learn new skills and build confidence. New York schools must continue to invest in computer- and internet-based learning so that all students — especially those without access to a laptop or tablet at home — can reach their full potential.
Additionally, parents and educators should encourage students to use education-based games and apps outside of school, which UNESCO showed can engage and support students by facilitating knowledge acquisition in interactive ways. And our elected officials and education leaders must continue to study the use of computers and tablets in the classroom setting to ensure these devices can be used productively and without causing distractions.
Tech:NYC believes that the industry should work closely with government leaders to ensure the internet is as safe and useful a tool as possible for everyone, but especially our kids.
Unlike social media bills passed in Albany this year, which come with significant feasibility and privacy concerns and likely violate the First Amendment, restricting phones in schools is a nimble, legal, and achievable solution to these challenges. As technology changes we must implement policy that keeps up with the swift pace of innovation and adaptation while ensuring these policies are thoughtfully crafted to solve existing problems without creating new ones.