New Hampshire has introduced a new law pushing schools to restrict student phone use. The idea is simple: fewer phones, fewer distractions. But phones are part of daily life, from texting parents to listening to music, so banning them raises tough questions. Should schools really take phones away — or should they help students learn how to use them wisely?
This is a discussion we brought to our latest Youth Media Advisory Board meeting, where four of our members shared their thoughts on the issue.
TOBI:
“I do think that there is an issue with phone usage in schools. I have seen many people using their phones in class or listening to music during a lecture. However, the approach the phone ban takes will do little in solving this problem. The new law calls for schools to develop a cell-phone use policy, however many schools already have one implemented. These phone policies have had varying impacts however, sometimes teacher enforcement works and students comply, however many times students continue to have and use their phones in class. What is this new law doing other than requiring something that is already taking place in schools? Even if this new phone ban was effective at removing phones from schools, there are still problems that arise for students. Banning phones would cut off the main form of communication for students and their parents. Whether it’s extracurriculars or a change in afterschool plans, students would have a significantly harder time communicating with their parents. A blanket phone ban would ignore that phones are too engrained in our life to simply remove them all together. I think a better approach would be to find a balance between restricting phone usage, as well as providing better ways for teachers to enforce it, while also allowing for phones to be used for communication.”
ANNIE:
“My concern with the NH school phone ban is that, while it is a state-issued law, the responsibility for managing the inevitable chaos falls entirely on the schools. The state has not provided alternative solutions or support, leaving enforcement solely in the hands of schools. That may sound fine in theory, but how can the state be certain that such enforcement is realistic or even attainable?”
GEORGIA:
“I see the reasoning behind the New Hampshire phone ban. But a total ban feels like avoiding a deeper problem. Instead of removing phones, schools should teach students how to use them responsibly. Phones are part of everyday life, and learning to manage them is just as important as any subject. A balanced approach would promote responsibility without cutting off access to useful tools or communication.”
OLLIE:
“I believe that that school phone ban was put into place with good intentions. The idea of trying to take phones out of schools would most likely benefit learning. However the way the law was put into place is not necessarily helpful for schools. There is no method to enforce this that is being told to schools, and one of the bigger problems schools are facing are issues with AirPods which can be used without phones directly on.”
As you can see, there are many different ways to look at this issue. Some focus on enforcement, others on communication, and others on teaching responsibility. Taken together, these perspectives highlight that the phone ban is not a simple solution but part of a larger debate about how schools, students, and the state handle technology. Thinking critically about these trade-offs is essential if we want policies that truly support learning.
Given how quickly phone policies have been evolving, the YMAB will revisit this topic in 6 months to see how things have been affected with lived experience. Stay tuned!