Coming of age alongside smartphones, however, has been linked to high rates of mental health concerns among Gen Z. A 2024 brief by the National Center for Health Statistics found that half of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 spent four or more hours on screens per day, and those teens were more likely to experience anxiety or depression symptoms.
Proponents argue that the bans are essential to promoting academic achievement and overall well-being among students. Cell phone ownership has more than doubled among school-aged youth in the past decade. At the same time, rates of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and cyberbullying have skyrocketed. And 72 percent of high school teachers say phone distractions are a major problem in their classrooms, according to Pew Research Center polling from June 2024.
It is vital to remember that feeling well is related to doing well. In fact, research supports students' well-being is tied to their academic performance. In one study of 3,400 high school students, those with greater well-being were more likely to have higher academic scores 7-8 months later. Further, teaching well-being at schools has been shown to have a profound increase on academic performance.
