News Briefings

Do Cell Phone Bans at School Help or Hurt Students?

By ACoM

Briefings

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Was Live Friday, Apr 3, 2026 | 11am PST

Guest Speakers

  • Dr. David Marshall, Associate Professor of Educational Research in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Technology. Dr. Marshall began his career as a middle and high school teacher
  • Dr. Timothy Pressley, Associate Professor of Psychology, Christopher Newport University
  • Nicholas Torres, recent high school graduate, Houston, Texas
  • KaiTamsin Bwor, senior, Grenada Hills Charter School. Ms. Bwor is editor in chief of her school’s student newspaper

Overview

33 states have enacted laws requiring school districts to implement cell phone bans in K-12 classrooms. Most such bans prohibit cell phone usage throughout the entire school day.

Last week, a court found social media giants Meta and YouTube complicit in creating social media addiction among young people. Children and young adults spend an average of 5.5 hours a day on their phones, largely fueled by social media.

Speakers this week will debate the merits of cell phone bans versus the potential of social media to foster social connection, creative self-expression, and to gain access to supportive communities.

Presented by ACoM

Cover Image Credit: Canva Photos