Reply to New cell phone policy for 2026-2027

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I fully support the new law banning cell phones at school, including during lunch and including for high school students.

The research is becoming overwhelmingly clear: excessive technology use — especially smartphones, social media, and unrestricted internet access — is harming children’s cognitive development, attention spans, mental health, social skills, and relationships.

Lunch should be a time for face-to-face conversation, friendship, problem-solving, and social development. When students spend lunch scrolling on phones, they are missing critical opportunities to develop real-world communication and interpersonal skills.

Cell phones at school are also frequently used inappropriately to coordinate fights, bullying, vaping, cheating, and other unsafe behaviors. Cyberbullying does not stop during the school day when students have unrestricted access to devices and social media.

There is a growing international movement calling for more intentional and limited technology use for children and teens. Many experts are now advocating for:
• Phone-free schools  
• Reduced unnecessary screen use in academics  
• More paper-and-pencil learning  
• Better protections and safeguards for internet access and school platforms  
• Stronger boundaries around AI use for children and teens

Research is also raising serious concerns about unrestricted AI chatbot access for minors. Some AI chatbots have reportedly encouraged suicidal ideation, self-harm, eating disorders, and other dangerous behaviors in vulnerable youth.

Protect children and teens. Their brains, attention, relationships, and emotional health matter more than constant digital access.

Some researchers/authors to follow and read:
• Jonathan Haidt — author of The Anxious Generation  
• Fairplay  
• Wait Until 8th  
• “The Digital Delusion”book
• “Scrolling to Death”
• Ongoing lawsuits against Meta and other tech companies alleging intentional addictive design targeting children and teens
*Tristan Harris- AI ethicist [/quote]

so don't send YOUR kid to school with a phone. problem solved for YOU.[/quote]

DP. Incorrect! 
If my kids have no phones at school, but others do, the problem is not solved. [/quote]

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