"The bans, which have been touted by researchers, educators and policymakers as a way to boost children's attendance and academic achievement and to combat mental health issues and online bullying, aren't delivering on all those promises, the findings reveal."
"In the years since cell phone bans went into effect in schools, students and teachers at those schools have reported higher levels of well-being, but average test scores and attendance records haven't budged."
"The study authors looked specifically at schools where kids have been required to keep their smartphones in magnetically sealed pouches that won't unlock until the end of the school day."
"As of 2026, about two thirds of U.S. states have passed laws to curb cell phone access in schools and they are not entirely popular with kids."
Cell phone bans in schools have led to students largely staying off their phones, resulting in reported higher levels of well-being among students and teachers. However, these bans have not significantly improved average test scores, attendance records, or perceived levels of online bullying. The research analyzed data from over 40,000 schools between 2019 and 2026, focusing on schools that required students to keep smartphones in sealed pouches. Despite the bans, they remain unpopular among students.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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