{"id":270113,"date":"2025-07-16T12:06:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=270113"},"modified":"2025-07-16T12:06:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:06:33","slug":"americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/07\/16\/americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans\u2019 support for school cellphone bans has ticked up since last year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As the new school year approaches and lawmakers across the country decide whether to enact cellphone bans in schools<\/a>, Americans\u2019 support for such bans is inching up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, 74% of U.S. adults say they would support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class, up from 68% last fall. <\/strong>Far fewer (19%) oppose classroom bans and 7% are unsure, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Support for all-day bans is also growing. More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, 46% of Americans oppose all-day bans. Another 10% are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/summary>\n

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand Americans\u2019 views of cellphone bans in schools for middle and high school students. For this analysis, we surveyed 5,023 adults from June 9 to 15, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. Interviews were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. Read more about the ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the questions used for this analysis<\/a>, the topline<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Views by age<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Line<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Majorities across all age groups now support banning cellphone use during class.<\/strong> That was not the case last year, when 45% of adults under 30 supported a ban. Over the past year, support particularly increased in this age group. Now, 57% of this group support a ban. This is still lower than support among those 50 and older (83%) and 30 to 49 (71%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for all-day bans has grown across age groups since last year, though younger adults are less supportive than older people on this type of restriction, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by race and ethnicity<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

White (79%) and Asian (78%) adults are more likely than Hispanic (65%) and Black (59%) adults to support cellphone bans in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, 48% of White adults support all-day bans, roughly on par with the share of Asian adults (42%) but higher than the shares of Hispanic (39%) and Black (29%) adults who agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by party<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Most Republicans and Democrats (including independents who lean to either party) stand behind cellphone bans during class, with support somewhat higher among Republicans than Democrats (78% vs. 71%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans are also more likely than Democrats to support banning cellphones during the entire school day (50% vs. 39%). Support for each type of ban has grown since last year in both parties<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact of cellphone bans on students<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We also asked Americans about how an all-day cellphone ban<\/em> would impact middle and high schoolers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Majorities say banning cellphones during the entire school day would positively impact students\u2019 social skills, grades and behavior in class. <\/strong>Much smaller shares say a ban would have a negative impact on each of these, and about one-in-five say it would have neither impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fewer Americans (37%) say an all-day ban would have a positive impact on students\u2019 physical safety.<\/strong> About a quarter (23%) say a ban would have a negative impact. Another 39% say it would have neither impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, we asked Americans why they support or oppose a cellphone ban in classrooms<\/em><\/a>. Supporters largely said children would have fewer distractions and develop better social skills. Opponents emphasized parents\u2019 need to contact their children when necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by race and ethnicity<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

White adults are the most likely to say a cellphone ban during the entire school day would improve students\u2019 social skills, grades and classroom behavior. For example, 73% of White adults say an all-day ban would positively impact social skills, higher than the shares of Black, Hispanic and Asian adults who agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views are similar across racial and ethnic groups when it comes to impacts on students\u2019 physical safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by age<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Adults under 30 tend to be less likely than older people to say an all-day cellphone ban would positively impact students in these areas. For instance, 26% of those ages 18 to 29 say a ban would improve students\u2019 physical safety, compared with 42% of those 50 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pattern is similar on the other three items we asked about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by party<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Republicans are somewhat more likely than Democrats to say an all-day cellphone ban would positively impact students across all four areas. For example, 71% of Republicans and 62% of Democrats say a ban would have a positive impact on students\u2019 grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of government in regulating school cellphone use<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Americans are slightly more worried about the government being too lax than too strict when regulating cellphone use in schools.<\/strong> Overall, 36% are more concerned that state and local governments won\u2019t go far enough in their regulations, while 29% are more concerned that they might go too far. Another 35% are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by age<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Younger adults are particularly concerned about government going too far in regulating cellphone use in schools, with 46% holding this view. By comparison, no more than three-in-ten adults in older age groups share this concern. Instead, older people are more likely to express concern that governments will not go far enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by race and ethnicity<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Black adults are the most likely to be more concerned that governments will go too far. About four-in-ten (42%) say this, compared with fewer Hispanic (31%), White (27%) and Asian adults (22%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, White, Hispanic and especially Asian adults are more likely to express concern that governments will not go far enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views by party<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to worry that state and local governments will go too far in their regulations (36% vs. 24%). Republicans are more concerned that governments will be too lax (41% vs. 32%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis<\/a>, the topline<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":658,"featured_media":270126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-07-16T16:06:44Z","apple_news_api_id":"8cb8aa32-9b9a-449f-bfd1-15f8eb3362de","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-07-16T16:06:44Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AjLiqMpuaRJ-_0RX46zNi3g","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"relatedPosts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"bylines":[{"key":"_i0274unur","termId":981},{"key":"_9o5cpgfwr","termId":564},{"key":"_a6yrmf5os","termId":940}],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[373,313],"bylines":[564,981,940],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[526],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-270113","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-k-12","category-smartphones","bylines-eugenie-park","bylines-jeffrey-gottfried","bylines-monica-anderson","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-internet"],"label":"Short Read","post_parent":0,"word_count":977,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/07\/16\/americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year\/","art_direction":{"A2":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A1":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"social":{"id":270126,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/07\/SR_25.07.16_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"(Dobrila Vignjevic\/via Getty Images)","chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[],"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"US support for school cellphone bans up since last year","description":"More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.","og_title":"Americans\u2019 support for school cellphone bans has ticked up since last year","og_description":"More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) back bans on student cellphone use during the entire school day, up from 36% last fall.","schema_type":"Article","noindex":false,"canonical_url":"","primary_terms":{"category":313,"formats":467,"regions-countries":515,"research-teams":526},"custom_schema":[],"og_image":270126,"indexnow_submitted_at":null,"gsc_index_status":null},"prepublish_checks":{},"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"relatedPostsOrdered":[],"bylinesOrdered":[{"key":"_i0274unur","termId":981},{"key":"_9o5cpgfwr","termId":564},{"key":"_a6yrmf5os","termId":940}],"acknowledgementsOrdered":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/270113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/short-read"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270113"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/270113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270178,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/270113\/revisions\/270178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"bylines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bylines?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"datasets","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/datasets?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"_post_visibility","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_post_visibility?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"formats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/formats?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"_fund_pool","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_fund_pool?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"languages","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/languages?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"regions-countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regions-countries?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"research-teams","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-teams?post=270113"},{"taxonomy":"workflow-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/workflow-status?post=270113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}