Los Angeles Unified School District implements cellphone and social media ban

06/24/2024 / By Olivia Cook

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) board decided to ban cellphones and social media use during school hours – with five board members voting in favor and two against. This ban, which will start in the spring of 2025, extends beyond the previous policy that only restricted phone use during classes and limited social media to educational purposes.

The decision follows a Pew Research Center survey revealing that 72 percent of high school teachers in the United States see cellphone use as a major classroom problem. The old policy, in place since 2011, has become ineffective with the rise of smartphones.

“Our students are glued to their cellphones – not unlike adults,” warned LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin, who supports the ban. “They’re surreptitiously scrolling in school, in class time. They have their head in their hands walking down the hallways. They’re not talking to each other or playing at lunch or recess because they have their AirPods in.”

“Excessuve cellphone use impacts adolescents mental health and well-being and is associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, feelings of aggression and suicidal thoughts,” warned the LAUSD regarding research released supporting the ban. “Research indicates that limiting cellphone usage and social media access during the school day increases academic performance and has positive effects on student mental health.”

Parents voice safety concerns over school cellphone ban

Parents worry that a complete ban could endanger their children in emergencies. Melvoin acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the need for better safety measures in schools. (Related: Parents and school officials of small Irish town unite to BAN SMARTPHONES for children as old as 13.)

“I think in emergencies and with parent communication, this is definitely where a lot of parents have expressed their concerns to me,” said Melvoin. “I think it’s such a tragic sign of the times, that this is what we initially think of. And we all need to do better in this country when it comes to gun violence prevention and keeping our students safe.”

The ban’s implementation may vary by school. Some schools might require phones to be kept in lockers, while others may use magnetic pouches. The district plans to develop a system to keep parents informed during emergencies. Additionally, there are concerns that non-English-speaking students might need apps on their phones as translation aides.

LAUSD School Board President Jackie Goldberg explained the straightforward plan: Students must store their phones at the start of the day – either in a locker or a pouch – and retrieve them when leaving.

Administrators hope the ban will enhance social interactions and reduce bullying. The LA Times highlighted a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that 15 percent of U.S. high school students reported being bullied on school property and 16 percent experienced being bullied electronically via text or social media in 2021.

Learn more about the state of public education in the U.S. at PublicEducation.news.

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