Most Americans Support Cellphone Restrictions in Schools, But Not All-Day Bans: Poll

In this photo illustration, social media apps are seen on a phone in New York City on March 14, 2024. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

As more states and school districts consider restricting students’ cellphone use, a new survey suggests that public opinion on the issue is more nuanced than it may seem.

The findings, published on Oct. 14 by the Pew Research Center, reveal that while banning cellphones entirely throughout the school day is unpopular with the general public—especially among younger adults, there is strong support for keeping students off their devices during class time.

According to the survey, about 7 in 10 American adults (68 percent) support restricting cellphone use during middle and high school classes. In contrast, a little more than one-third of adults (38 percent) favor a total ban for middle and high school students throughout the school day, including at lunch and between classes.

Interestingly, the divide between parents of K–12 students and adults without children in school is not as large as some might expect.

The survey finds that 65 percent of parents with a K–12 child support banning students from using their cellphone during class, closely mirroring 69 percent of those without children in school. The two groups also showed the exact same levels of support (36 percent) for a total school-day ban.

“While some media headlines focus on parents’ resistance to cellphone bans, our survey shows few differences in views between those who have school-age children and those who don’t,” Pew’s researchers said.

The survey also explored the reasons behind these views. Among those who support restricting cellphones during class, 91 percent believe it would reduce distractions for students, while 70 percent said it could help students develop better social skills. Reducing cheating and bullying were also commonly cited as key reasons for supporting the ban.

Meanwhile, those who oppose any form of cellphone restriction primarily cite the need for parents to stay in touch with their children. This aligns with findings from a National Parents Union survey, which found that the ability to contact children in an emergency is the top reason parents want their kids to have cellphones at school.

One group notably less supportive of cellphone restrictions is young adults. Only 45 percent of those aged 18–29 support banning cellphones in classrooms, while just 18 percent favor a total ban throughout the school day.

The Pew survey was conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6, 2024, among 5,110 randomly selected adults via online and telephone interviews, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points.

Several states have recently adopted or are considering policies to regulate cellphone use in K-12 classrooms. At a local level, many school boards and districts also voted to limit or ban cellphone use, some even before their state made it a requirement.

In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order mandating “cellphone-free education” across the state. In accordance with Youngkin’s order, Virginia’s education department directed school districts to implement a “bell-to-bell” policy, which means cellphones must be turned off and stored away from the first bell at the start of the school day until the dismissal bell.

Similarly, in September, South Carolina’s education board approved a model policy requiring students to store phones away in a locker or backpack for the entire school day, even in between classes. Schools districts must adopt this model policy or implement more restrictive rules to secure state funding.

In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul toured her state this summer to hear from teachers and parents, with plans to propose legislation for a statewide school cellphone ban next year. The tour was endorsed by New York State United Teachers, a 600,000-member teachers union calling for a Virginia-style “bell-to-bell” policy.