Experts agree that young people across America are in a mental health crisis. Some point the finger at incessant cell phone presence and anxiety-inducing social media usage. In response, more and more states are trying to get these addictive devices out of children’s hands during school hours.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin recently ordered public schools across the state to go cell phone-free by January 2025 to “promote a healthier and more focused educational environment.”
A study by Common Sense Media found 97% of teens use their phones during school hours. Similarly, Pew Research Center reports 72% of high school teachers say that students being distracted by cell phones is a major problem in their classroom. The teachers say during instruction time they observe students doing things like watching movies on Netflix, gambling online, and responding to social media.
Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD, Chief Science Officer with the American Psychological Association, told CBN News a student’s access to social media during class impedes their ability to achieve academically.Â
“Giving kids access to something where they can have 24/7 interaction with their peers is kind of the worst thing we want to do, especially if it’s distracting them from schoolwork,” he said.Â
“We do
The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at CBN
