Survey: Parents and teens support school cellphone bans, and most don’t perceive major downsides

Survey: Parents and teens support school cellphone bans, and most don’t perceive major downsides

Anna Saavedra, Amie Rapaport, and Daniel Silver

Online Posts

Brookings Institution

2026

In response to the distractions cellphones pose to classroom learning—and building on evidence documenting the harmful effects of cellphone use during school hours—states, districts, and schools across the country have been adopting policies designed to limit students’ access to phones at school. In fact, over 30 states now have policies governing cellphone use in schools, with more state-driven restrictions coming into effect in 2026.