A bill that would dramatically limit cell phone usage in elementary, middle and high schools passed the Utah Senate and the House of Representatives. It is on its way to Gov. Cox’s desk for his signature.
The bill, SB 69, would block students from using their cell phones and smart watches during school hours. It includes all instructional time, lunch periods, recess and transition time between classes.
SB 69 would also apply to any “emerging technology,” which is defined under Title 53G-7-227 as “any other device that has or will be able to act in place of or as an extension of an individual’s cell phone.”
An amendment added a provision allowing parents to request accommodation for their student to use their technology during non-instructional time.
Interestingly, the bill, proposed by a Republican, faced little opposition from Democratic lawmakers, with the only votes against in the House coming from Republicans.
Bans like this are already in place in 28 other states, with other restrictions in 12. This bipartisan legislation is a benefit for Utah students, children and educators.
Cell phones are bad for physical and mental health
According to the Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers aged 13-17 say they have a smartphone at home. Additionally, 96% of teens say they use the internet daily, with 46% saying they use it almost constantly. This constant use is bad for the mental and physical health of children in the United States.
According to a study done by the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, “Smartphone ownership at age 12 was associated with increased risks of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep, with younger age of acquisition linked to additional risks of obesity and insufficient sleep.”
They found similar risks for smartphone ownership from age 13 onward. Social media use is also strongly linked to poorer mental health. Teenagers are particularly likely to use social media, with 73% reporting daily use of YouTube, 57% reporting for TikTok, 50% for Instagram and 48% for Snapchat.
According to the National Institute of Health, 24.4% of adolescents in the U.S. would qualify as addicted to social media. This addiction is associated with higher rates of symptoms for depression, anxiety, lower life satisfaction, compulsive behavior and psychiatric problems.
Nearly universal ownership of cell phones makes phones a convenient access point for social media.
The number of teens who report almost constant online access increased from 24% in 2014-25 to 46% in 2024. Banning cell phones in public schools would have a significant impact on overall use.
By blocking students from using their cell phones throughout a significant chunk of the day, overall use of social media should decrease. There is simply less time in the day to use a cell phone.
Smartphones and school performance
The increased use of smartphones in daily life correlates strongly with decreased test scores and overall learning success.
According to the Institute of Education Sciences, a commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that “with 53% of school leaders reporting negative impacts of cell phone use on academic performance, and even more citing negative impacts on students’ mental health and attention spans, schools are facing a critical issue.”
73% of public school leaders feel that cell phones have damaged students’ attention spans. The data seems to support this, with attention spans falling from two and a half minutes in 2004 to 47 seconds in 2024.
This drop makes it harder for students to retain information and process it in a deeper, more immersive way, instead prioritizing skimming and quick reading. It also harms the ability of students to delay gratification and engage in long-term success. Of course, not all the effects of cell phones in schools are bad.
NPR noted that an example of a school in a rural school district was using cell phones to help conduct science experiments because of a lack of tablets and laptops.
Despite this, students certainly seem to think that their cell phones distract them in class, with 88% reporting it as a valid reason to consider banning phones in class.
Responsible governance
Smartphones are a valuable tool in our society. However, just like all tools, there is a time and a place for them to be used.
As test scores continue to decline, we must be honest about some of the potential causes. As rates of depression and other disorders climb among adolescents, we need to critically look at what potential solutions could be.
Passing SB 69 is the responsible thing for Gov. Cox and our state legislature to do.
