It's time to make New York schools smartphone-free
Ari Waife, a student in Peter Miedema's 8th grade history honors class puts his cell phone into a basket before the start of class at Shelter Island School on Shelter Island on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The school district is considering is considering implementing an cell cell phones in class policy as they are a big distraction. Credit: Randee Daddona
This guest essay reflects the views of Joseph A. Salamone, founder and executive director of The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying.
It took time, but society recognized the dangers of alcohol and tobacco and set limits to protect public health, particularly for children. Smartphones — and the mental, physical, and social risks they pose — are no different. The evidence is undeniable.
I have spent years advocating for safer school environments. While here to stay, the presence of smartphones is one of our biggest challenges. These devices fuel bullying, harm mental health, and distract from learning. But banning smartphones in schools, as has been proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, isn’t just about eliminating harm — it’s about restoring community, belonging, and connection while refocusing on academics.
Bullying has escalated dramatically. Today, a single video, shared on social media or via text, can humiliate a child instantly. During a recent conversation with a Long Island high school principal’s cabinet, one assistant principal estimated 85% of the “drama” he manages stems from smartphones. Visiting 200 Long Island classrooms last year and speaking to 12,000 students, I routinely asked what happens when a fight breaks out. Almost in unison, students responded: “Someone records it.” Beyond physical altercations, a young girl recently discovered a humiliating video taken of her in a school hallway was posted to a private Snapchat story, a cruel moment now memorialized forever. For entertainment, validation, or social status, students escalate conflict rather than de-escalate.
Smartphones make a teacher’s already uphill battle to engage students even harder. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found 72% of high school teachers see phones as a major classroom problem. Students’ attention is constantly divided; every notification hijacks their focus. We see it in adults who check phones during meetings. Research shows students perform better when smartphones are removed.
Beyond academics, smartphones erode social engagement. Walk into a school cafeteria today, and you’ll see students sitting together but staring at screens. Real conversation is replaced with passive scrolling. Eliminating phones helps foster face-to-face interactions, deepen friendships, and build real community bonds.
I understand that parents worry about reaching their children, particularly during emergencies. But landlines worked for generations — and still do. Schools have emergency protocols, and a student’s focus during a crisis should be on safety, not communicating with parents. Smartphones often create chaos, spreading misinformation and distracting students from lifesaving instructions. We want children focused on staying alive, not staying in touch. School remains one of the safest places for children, and keeping smartphones away during the day protects them more effectively, not less.
Luckily, we don’t have to guess whether phone-free schools work. In countries like Norway, smartphone limits reduced bullying by 40% and visits to school mental health professionals by 60%. Academic success improved as well. Numerous U.S. states and districts, including Los Angeles public schools, have implemented smartphone limitations. Many Long Island experimenting with restrictions report significant improvements, including reduced conflicts and increased academic performance. One assistant principal said implementing ‘away-for-the-day’ policies in his building has “significantly” reduced peer conflict and disciplinary issues.
Schools should be places of belonging, not exclusion; of learning, not distraction; and of connection, not isolation. Removing smartphones won’t solve all these issues, but it’s a monumental step forward, giving kids a much-needed pause from their devices.
It’s time to make New York schools smartphone-free and provide districts with resources and flexibility in enforcement. I applaud Gov. Hochul’s leadership and urge the State Legislature to make schools distraction-free from smartphones.
n THIS GUEST ESSAY reflects the views of Joseph A. Salamone, founder and executive director of The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying.
