In the United States, more than 95 percent of teenagers aged 13 to 17 have access to a cell phone. This month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide plan to restrict cell phone use in K-12 schools, backed by a $13.5 million budget.
If approved, the “effective distraction-free policy” would restrict cell phone use during the school day and provide funding for storage solutions to keep students’ phones safely tucked away until they can reclaim them at the end of the day.
“They’re calling for help,” Hochul said at a Jan. 22 press conference. “They’re literally calling us for help, and as the adults in the room, the policymakers, it’s our job to pick up that call—and then put down that phone.”
The governor’s plan makes an exception for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who use internet-enabled devices for disabilities.
If approved, the plan would go into effect in the fall of this year and would apply to all NYS public schools, charter schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) programs.
However, the proposed legislation would not affect cell phones without internet access or laptops and tablets required for class instruction. Hochul’s plan did not mention consequences for breaking the rules.
A 2024 survey by the United Federation of Teachers found that 49 percent of NYC schools already have a cell phone restriction in place, and results showed that the best practice for middle and high school students was to collect phones as they entered the building. However, the most successful plans involved support from parents.
Nellie Sung, a Riverdale resident and mother of three students, was fully in favor of Hochul’s plan.
“They’re at an age when they’re going to be on screens more than we want them to anyway,” Sung said. “[I’m for] anything we can put into place to reduce that.”
High screen time usage has been linked to mental health issues among teenagers. Individuals aged 12 through 15 who spend three or more hours a day on social media double their chances of experiencing poor mental health, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to a 2023 report by the Surgeon General’s advisory.
“Social comparison driven by social media is associated with body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and depressive symptoms,” the report stated.
Sung’s middle child is an eighth grader at Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy (RKA), where cell phones are used freely. However, her other two children—one who attends school in Manhattan and another in New Jersey—both hand in their phones during first period and receive them at the end of the day.
Sung said her eldest daughter admitted that without her phone, she and her friends spend more time chatting during lunch and free periods. Meanwhile, when Sung’s eighth-grader sits in the cafeteria, he spends the time playing on his phone with his friends.
The time children spend on digital screens reduces opportunities to develop skills for reading nonverbal cues and engaging in in-person communication, according to a 2014 study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“It kind of forces them to go back to old-school communication, which is a good thing because I feel like kids are losing social skills,” Sung said.
She sympathized with parents concerned about the lack of phone access during the day but shared that she’s never had a problem reaching her children. She can always contact the main office if necessary.
“The school will be able to get a message to them. I think that’s a lame reason not to be in favor of it,” Sung added.
Another parent of a local sixth grader, who wished to remain anonymous, said her daughter’s school requires students to keep their phones in pouches throughout the day, with access allowed only during lunchtime. She expressed concern over the amount of screen time children are exposed to daily
“No one’s really talking to each other. There aren’t a lot of options—you’re either sitting there not socializing or you’re on the phone,” she said. “It would be nice if they were doing something constructive.”
The state’s plan seeks to push students into engagement opportunities like clubs, sports, and arts programs. An implementation guide would be provided to schools, offering references and resources for best practices on navigating the newly distraction-free environment.
Currently, eight states have a cell phone restriction or ban in place, while another fourteen have introduced legislation.