As students return to school this month across the US, many will encounter classrooms without smartphones. Phone policies are now in effect in at least 39 states and Washington DC.
While student organisers support screen-time bans, they note that policies are often enforced haphazardly and do not address underlying causes of screen addiction, such as social pressure and isolation. In response, more students are advocating for their own digital wellbeing and creating programmes for tech-free learning.
In California, a new state law effective from 1 July mandates school districts to develop policies restricting phone use on campus. Elise Choi, a junior at the Orange County School of the Arts, is advocating for a state bill that would require district-wide digital wellness education, teaching students about the impact of social media and AI on mental health.
Other students are actively shaping phone bans at their schools. Liv Kong, a rising senior in California, led a student advisory group that surveyed students and piloted phone policies, ultimately choosing a ban on phones in class but allowing them during breaks.
Following a statewide anti-screen policy in New York last year, the non-profit #HalfTheStory launched the Teen Tech Council. This initiative provides mini-grants for students to create tech-free campus initiatives, supporting 50 schools and reaching 17,000 students across the state over the past year.