Most Americans Support Cellphone Restrictions in Schools, But Not All-Day Bans: Poll

As more states and school districts consider restricting students’ cellphone use, a new survey suggests that public opinion on the issue is more nuanced than it may seem.
According to the survey, about 7 in 10 American adults (68 percent) support restricting cellphone use during middle and high school classes. In contrast, a little more than one-third of adults (38 percent) favor a total ban for middle and high school students throughout the school day, including at lunch and between classes.
Interestingly, the divide between parents of K–12 students and adults without children in school is not as large as some might expect.
The survey finds that 65 percent of parents with a K–12 child support banning students from using their cellphone during class, closely mirroring 69 percent of those without children in school. The two groups also showed the exact same levels of support (36 percent) for a total school-day ban.
“While some media headlines focus on parents’ resistance to cellphone bans, our survey shows few differences in views between those who have school-age children and those who don’t,” Pew’s researchers said.
The survey also explored the reasons behind these views. Among those who support restricting cellphones during class, 91 percent believe it would reduce distractions for students, while 70 percent said it could help students develop better social skills. Reducing cheating and bullying were also commonly cited as key reasons for supporting the ban.
One group notably less supportive of cellphone restrictions is young adults. Only 45 percent of those aged 18–29 support banning cellphones in classrooms, while just 18 percent favor a total ban throughout the school day.
The Pew survey was conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6, 2024, among 5,110 randomly selected adults via online and telephone interviews, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points.
Several states have recently adopted or are considering policies to regulate cellphone use in K-12 classrooms. At a local level, many school boards and districts also voted to limit or ban cellphone use, some even before their state made it a requirement.
Similarly, in September, South Carolina’s education board approved a model policy requiring students to store phones away in a locker or backpack for the entire school day, even in between classes. Schools districts must adopt this model policy or implement more restrictive rules to secure state funding.