In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

In an effort to remove distractions and enhance educational experiences, schools across the United States are increasingly adopting a no‐phone policy, requiring students to lock away their devices for the entire school day, CBS News reported on Oct. 20. Students at the Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, New York, begin their day by putting their phones in pouches, which remain locked for seven hours, including at lunchtime. The pouches are made by a company specializing in creating phone‐free spaces called Yondr, and cost between $25 and $30 per student. With over 2,000 schools participating, the company reported a 150% increase in schools using them in 2023. At the Newburgh school, the policy came as a bit of a shock for some students when it was introduced four years ago. No‐phone policies come amid rising concerns about kids' mental health and technology. “Smartphones are basically kryptonite for learning,” said Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author. “When children have a phone in their pocket — and most schools say you have to keep your phone in your pocket; you can't use it during class — it's like saying in a drug detox clinic, ‘You can keep your heroin in your pocket, just don't shoot up.’”