The complex reality behind youth device bans
By Sarah Veader
This past summer, parents across the country received notice from their schools: The institutions were cracking down on cell phone policy enforcement and, in some cases, outright banning phones in the classroom.
These bans are extending to other places as well, including recreational organizations and camps. The main reason is the need to pull teens’ attention back to the issue at hand. Instead of being engaged in activities, youth are constantly diverted by notifications from social media and private conversations with their friends (and, in some cases, family members). Rather than waiting until after a program or practice, teens feel the need to fire off a response immediately.
If an organization is considering following these school districts’ lead and implementing a cell phone policy, it’s important to first consider the legal, operational, and cultural implications of such decisions.