“Smartphone use has a time and place. It’s not in the classroom. Study after study have shown the harmful effects of too much screen time. Children and teens who spend hours on their phones scrolling through social media are more anxious, depressed, and distracted.”
Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, makes the case for banning cell phones in the classroom in this Time Magazine essay. He points out that:
“…many social media algorithms continue to be designed to maximize view time, with little regard to young people. Through a constant barrage of notifications that stoke a fear of missing out, these apps encourage students to crave digital stimulation. This short-sighted approach has real consequences for students and their learning. In fact, a 2023 study from the University of Delaware and Florida State University found that middle schoolers’ academic achievement decreased as their social media use increased.”
Ready concludes:
“I believe we can take advantage of all that technology has to offer our students while minimizing the harms. We have the chance to empower a bright new generation of young people to become responsible digital citizens who think critically about what they consume online, and when they consume it. It’s time for tech companies to prioritize learning and youth wellbeing. And it starts with phone-free schools.”
Do you agree?
Time, 4/23/25
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