Banning cell phones throughout the school day is more common than ever

As schools across the country continue to implement cell phone bans, new Pew Research Center survey It shows they are continuing to get support.

77% of US adults support banning cell phones in middle and high school classrooms, and 48% support banning them throughout the school day. This is the first time that more Americans support, rather than oppose, the so-called bell-to-bell ban. Two years ago, only 36% of American adults supported an all-day ban.

Across all 18+ age groups surveyed, most respondents support classroom bans. This support is lower but still at least half that for an all-day ban across most age groups, with the exception of ages 18-29, where support for a bell-to-bell ban drops to just 28 percent. Republicans were slightly more likely to favor bans in the classroom and throughout the day, at 81% and 55%, respectively. But Democrats were also broadly supportive of an in-class ban, at 74%, and an all-day ban, at 44%.

More than 20 countries have it Already adopted a bell-to-bell mobile phone banEarly studies show mixed effects. 1 report found Long-term positive effects on student well-being, but no evidence of an effect on test scores. Another has been found Higher suspension rates in the first year of the ban, which later returned to normal levels, and lower unexcused absences.