Most Americans back cellphone bans during class, but fewer support all-day restrictions

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As lawmakers and educators crack down on cellphone use in schools, most Americans back bans on using phones in classrooms but are less supportive of full-day restrictions.

Overall, 68% of U.S. adults say they support a ban on middle and high school students using cellphones during class, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2024. This includes 45% who strongly support this.

Another 24% oppose this, while 8% say they aren’t sure.

Some school districts have called for banning cellphone use entirely, not just during class. Our survey finds the public is far less supportive of a full-day ban on cellphone use than a classroom ban.

About one-third (36%) support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during the entire school day, including at lunch as well as during and between classes. By comparison, 53% oppose this more restrictive approach.

Young adults are less likely than older age groups to support a cellphone ban in middle or high school, either during class or the entire school day.

Less than half of adults under 30 (45%) say they support banning students from using cellphones during class. This share rises to 67% among those ages 30 to 49 and 80% among those ages 50 and older.

There are similar age differences in views about daylong cellphone bans. Only 18% of adults under 30 support preventing students from using cellphones throughout the school day. By comparison, 36% of those ages 30 to 49 and 44% of those 50 and older favor this type of ban.

While some media headlines focus on parents’ resistance to cellphone bans, our survey shows few differences in views between those who have school-age children and those who don’t.

For example, 65% of parents with a K-12 child support banning students from using their cellphone during class. This compares with 69% of those without children in these grades. And identical shares (36% each) support a ban for the entire school day.

California and other states are banning cell phones in schools: What you need to know