Alexis Aryeequaye, contributor
When I was in eighth grade, my middle school suddenly banned cellphones the day before winter break. Not in class, not during passing time, not even at lunch. After years of being the only middle school in our district to allow phones at school, the policy abruptly changed. I remember the mass outrage. Rumors, direct complaints to the administration, a kid in my grade even drafted a petition to present to the principal, to no avail. When we came back from break, phones were completely forbidden at my school for the remainder of the school year and for the following ones. 14-year-old me had one strong opinion that now, as an 18-year-old college student, still remains true: schools (and the world at large) aren’t safe enough for bans or heavy restrictions on cellphones.
Let me lay out a statement that most people will agree with: phones are distracting. You tell yourself that it’ll only be ten minutes of scrolling, until an hour passes. All of a sudden, you’ve abandoned all other commitments and forgotten what you wanted. People get so immersed in the digital world that they tend to neglect their real-life responsibilities. In fact, according to the Harmony Healthcare IT, the average American spends 5 hours and 16 minutes on their phone daily; also, according to the Pew Research Center, half of Americans report that they spend too much time on their phones. In general, we could all benefit from a phone cleanse, especially students who have extracurriculars and school commitments. However, in an age of school shootings, mental health issues and societal worries, phone bans simply aren’t productive or necessary.
According to the Sandy Hook Promise, every day in the United States, 12 children die from gun violence, and another 32 are shot and injured. Gun violence is the number one cause of death in young people living in America. This awful reality morphs the use of a cell phone. It is no longer just a device for social media or entertainment. For students, it is a lifeline. Parents deserve immediate, direct confirmation that their children are safe, and students need a way to communicate with their families during moments of extreme crisis. Total bans sever this vital connection, increasing panic for both students inside the building and parents waiting on the outside, as well as increasing even more anxiety and concern. Beyond physical safety, the medical needs of students have to be taken into account. Many students rely on their smartphones to manage medical conditions, such as tracking glucose levels for diabetes, or to keep in touch with parents about after-school jobs and transportation.
“Reality morphs the use of a cell phone. It is no longer just a device for social media or entertainment. For students, it is a lifeline.”
Alexis Aryeequaye
In addition, the modern mental health crisis can’t be forgotten. As a student with mental health issues, having a consistent connection to my family and friends is a must–even during school hours. Instead of teaching students how to foster healthy relationships with their technology and encouraging healthier habits, schools prioritize institutional control.
Ultimately, schools should focus on education and digital literacy instead of confiscation. Implementing smart, classroom-specific rules where phones are put away during lectures satisfies the need for focus. Total school-wide bans are an unnecessary and dangerous overreach in a world that requires constant connectivity for basic survival. Phone bans don’t belong in schools, and the well-being of students is what matters most.