America’s movement to restrict smartphones in schools is accelerating as concerns grow about teenage mental health and the effects of constant connectivity.

A peer-reviewed 2025 study involving 1,227 adolescents linked greater smartphone and social media use with poorer mental well-being. Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a statewide school cellphone restriction on October 21, joining California and other states trying to reduce digital distractions.

Related: She Quit Her Smartphone and Says It Helped Improve Mental Health

Why States Are Taking Phones Away

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Pennsylvania’s Senate approved Senate Bill 1014 , sending the legislation to Gov. Josh Shapiro. The proposal would restrict cellphone use throughout the school day, including lunch and breaks, beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

“We need to get cellphones out of our classrooms and let kids focus on learning,” Republican state Sen.…