California Enacts Legislation to Restrict Smartphone Use in Schools

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On September 23, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 3216, known as the Phone-Free School Act, which mandates that school districts throughout the state implement policies to limit or ban smartphone usage during school hours. The new legislation requires all school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to adopt these rules by July 1, 2026.

“This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school,” Newsom stated in a press release following the signing of the bill. The law aims to address growing concerns regarding the impact of smartphones on students’ mental health and academic performance.

The initiative is part of a broader trend across multiple states, including Florida and Louisiana, which have also enacted similar restrictions. A study from the Pew Research Center revealed that over 72% of high school teachers reported cellphone distractions as a significant issue in classrooms. Furthermore, research has indicated that unrestricted smartphone use can contribute to increased anxiety and depression among students.

Assemblymember Josh Hoover, a Republican from Folsom who co-authored the bill with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, noted that many parents support restrictions due to concerns about their children’s focus and social interactions.

Critics of the legislation express concerns about potential emergency situations where students might need access to their phones. However, the law includes provisions allowing phone use during emergencies or perceived threats of danger.

The law builds on previous legislation from 2019 that authorized districts to restrict phone access, which has seen varying levels of implementation across California schools. Los Angeles Unified School District recently voted to ban phone use during school hours starting January 2025.

This legislative move comes amid increasing calls for intervention regarding social media’s effects on youth mental health, with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy advocating for warning labels on social media platforms akin to those on tobacco products.

For more information on this story and direct quotes from experts involved in this discussion, you can refer to the original article by Reuters here.

Sources:
[1] https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/california-latest-state-restrict-student-smartphone-school-113945426
[2] https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/california-school-cellphone-ban/3518096/
[3] https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/gov-newsom-signs-legislation-aimed-at-limiting-cell-phone-use-in-california-schools/
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/us/california-school-cellphone-ban.html
[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-passes-law-ban-or-restrict-smartphones-school-2024-09-24/
[6] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-09-23/california-passes-law-to-ban-or-restrict-smartphones-in-school
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF2xse8vqdo