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The number of states banning smartphones in schools is growing.

New York is now the largest state in the U.S. to . Starting in fall 2025, to use their phones during the school day, including during lunch, recess or in between classes. This bell-to-bell policy will impact almost in grades K-12.

By banning smartphones in schools, New York is joining states across the country. The bans are happening in both traditionally liberal and conservative states.

Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia all passed legislation in 2025 that requires schools to have policies that . The policies will go into effect in the 2025–2026 school year. This brings the total to , that have phone-free school legislation or executive orders.

I'm a professor who studies , and while writing a book about , I've noticed the narrative around smartphones and social media shifting over the past decade.

A turning tide

According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of American adults support , although only 36% support banning them for the entire school day. Notably, a majority of Republican, Democratic and independent voters all support bans during class time.

More broadly, parent-led movements to limit children's use of smartphones, social media and the internet have sprung up around the country. For example, the in Pennsylvania was launched in 2023, and started in New York in March 2024. These organizations, which empower parents to advocate in their local communities, follow in the footsteps of organizations such as in Texas and in Massachusetts, which were formed in 2017.

The concerns of these parent-led organizations were reflected in the best-selling book "," which paints a bleak picture of modern childhood as dominated by depression and anxiety brought on by smartphone addiction.

Phone-free schools are one of the four actions the book's author, , recommended to change course. The other three are no smartphones for children before high school, waiting until 16 for social media access, and allowing more childhood independence in the real world.

Haidt's research team collaborated with to survey Gen Z. They found that almost half of those age 18–27 wish social media had never been invented, and 21% wish smartphones had never been invented. About 40% of Gen Z respondents supported phone-free schools.

The Pew Research Center found that almost 40% of kids age 8–12 use social media, and almost 95% of kids age 13–17 use it, with nearly half of teens reporting that they .

Phone-free schools are also part of the of states and nations resisting Big Tech, the large technology companies that play a significant role in global commerce.

In May 2025, two U.S. senators introduced the , which would require mental health warnings on social media.

New laws that ban smartphones or social media for youth are being introduced . Australia has .

After a in eastern France on June 10, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the same day that he wants the European Union to set the minimum age for social media at 15. He argued that social media is a factor in teen violence. If the EU doesn't act within a few months, .

The impact on learning

Although this trend of restricting use of phones in school is new, more states may adopt smartphone bans in the future. Bell-to-bell bans are viewed as especially powerful in improving academic performance.

Some research has suggested that when children have access to a smartphone, even if they do not use it, they find it . Initial research has found that after the bans go into effect.

Test scores fell across the U.S. during the pandemic lockdown and . Some states, such as Maine and Oregon, are almost a full year behind grade level in reading. has recovered in both math and reading.

Statewide bans free local school districts from having to create their own technology bans, which can lead to heated debates. Although a majority of adults approve of banning smartphones in class, for reasons such as wanting to be able to contact their kids throughout the day and wanting parents to set the boundaries.

However, 72% of high school teachers say that . Anecdotally, schools report that after getting used to the change.

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