A new Florida law bans elementary and middle school students from using their cellphones at school.
A Pew Research poll finds more adults support that position.
74% of U.S. adults support banning cellphone use during class for middle and high school students, up from 68% last fall. 19 oppose the bans and 7% were undecided.
The Florida ban does not apply to high school students.
By Age Group
18- to 29-year-olds (57%) support banning cellphones for middle and high school students. That number is up from 45% in 2024. 30 to 49, 71% support the ban and those 50 and older, 83% support the ban.
Political Parties.
This topic seems to have bipartisan support. 78% of Republicans supported the ban and 71% of Democrats agreed.
The Influence of Cellphones on Students
Pew Research asked respondents how they viewed the effect of cellphone use among middle and high school students daily.
Around 66% believed all-day cellphone bans would improve students’ social skills, grades and behavior in class. Supporters said children would have fewer distractions and develop better social skills. Only 23% said a ban would have a negative impact. Pew said opponents didn’t like a ban in case parents need to contact their children when necessary.
The Role of Government Regulating School Cellphone Use.
Poll researchers asked this question and said they found Americans were slightly “more worried about the government being too lax than too strict” when regulating cellphone use in schools.
36% said they were more concerned that state and local governments won’t go far enough in their regulations with 29% saying they were more concerned that they might go too far. 35% were undecided.
By Age.
Pew found that 46% of younger Americans seemed concerned about government going too far in regulating cellphone use in schools and most older adults believed that governments will not go far enough in restrictions.
By Political Parties.
36% of Democrats compared to 24% of Republicans worry that state and local governments will go too far in their regulations. 41% of GOP voters felt that governments will be too lax compared to 32% of Democrats.
