Adolescents growing up during the time of the pandemic were heavily affected by the uptick of phone usage and this high amount of use is now what they are accustomed to. This increase is harmful as smartphones have been proven time and time again to have a huge impact on adolescents mental health, and they have been a driving factor in the decline of mental health amongst teens. They have also fostered both an increase in bullying and a decrease in academic abilities, especially in young girls.
According to Boston Globe, schools in Norway found that banning cell phones helped reverse the effects that social media and phones left on their students. A study showed a significant increase in students’ overall health and wellness after phones were banned in middle schools around Norway. The positive results and effects of the ban show how other schools around the world, possibly even Hackley, could benefit from implementing rules around phone usage on campus.
According to MyKidsVision, a recent report showed that the average amount of time teens spend on their phone is 8 hours and 39 minutes a day. Phones are used for communication and a way to connect with others virtually, which was extremely important in the era of Covid. Since people couldn’t physically see each other, they used their cell phones and other devices to communicate with friends and family. However, it’s not the communication aspect of phones that makes them harmful, it’s social media that can have lasting effects on one’s mental health, body image, and so much more. The National Institutes of Health said that, “A recent large-scale survey revealed a sharp increase (about 20%) in worldwide social media usage compared to before the pandemic.” This shows that the pandemic heavily contributed to society’s current usage of phones and social media.
Regarding the possibility of a phone ban at Hackley, freshman Beatrix Mackil said, “Maybe [it would be beneficial] in some ways…I don’t think a total phone ban [is necessary] because I think that they’re good to have in between classes to communicate with friends and family…”
Beatrix said that a total phone ban wouldn’t be very beneficial because cell phones are good to have for usage outside of class.
“I think that using phones in class should be regulated more… so there doesn’t have to be a full ban but maybe rules around when they can be used could be good,” she said.
She thinks that phones should not be allowed in classrooms, and more rules around phone usage at school could be helpful, but overall, a total phone ban is unnecessary.
If there were to be a phone ban at Hackley, students would most likely push back and try to find ways around the ban. It would be most effective to create expectations rather than rules around phone usage during school hours and class periods, because it makes students more likely to abide by them if there is not a total ban.
