A new Pew Research Center survey shows that 77% of US adults support banning cellphones in middle and high school classes, with 48% supporting all-day bans—a significant increase from 36% two years ago. More than 20 states have adopted bell-to-bell bans, though studies show mixed impacts on student well-being and academic outcomes.
<figure>
<img alt="Photo collage showing a child attempting to use a tablet screen that has a combination lock." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/STK461_INTERNET_CHILD_SAFETY_Stock_D_CVirginia.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As schools across the country continue to implement cellphone bans, a new <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/29/more-americans-now-support-than-oppose-all-day-school-cellphone-bans/">Pew Research Center survey</a> shows they continue to gain support. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Seventy-seven percent of US adults support banning cellphones in middle and high school classes, and 48 percent support banning them for the entire school day. That's the first time more Americans have supported, rather than opposed, so-called bell-to-bell bans. Two years ago, just 36 percent of American adults supported an all day ban.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Across all age groups over 18 that were surveyed, most respondents support in-class bans. That support is lower but still at least half for all-day bans across most age …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/972607/full-school-day-cell-phone-bans-are-more-popular-than-ever">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Full school day cellphone bans are more popular than ever
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/policy/972607/full-school-day-cell-phone-bans-are-more-popular-than-ever](https://www.theverge.com/policy/972607/full-school-day-cell-phone-bans-are-more-popular-than-ever)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/lauren-feiner)
Lauren Feiner
is a senior policy reporter at The Verge, covering the intersection of Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill\. She spent 5 years covering tech policy at CNBC, writing about antitrust, privacy, and content moderation reform\.
As schools across the country continue to implement cellphone bans, a new[Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/29/more-americans-now-support-than-oppose-all-day-school-cellphone-bans/)shows they continue to gain support\.
Seventy\-seven percent of US adults support banning cellphones in middle and high school classes, and 48 percent support banning them for the entire school day\. That’s the first time more Americans have supported, rather than opposed, so\-called bell\-to\-bell bans\. Two years ago, just 36 percent of American adults supported an all day ban\.
Across all age groups over 18 that were surveyed, most respondents support in\-class bans\. That support is lower but still at least half for all\-day bans across most age groups, except for ages 18\-29, where support for a bell\-to\-bell ban drops to just 28 percent\. Republicans were slightly more likely to favor both in\-class and all\-day bans, at 81 percent and 55 percent, respectively\. But Democrats were also broadly supportive of in\-class bans at 74 percent, and all\-day bans at 44 percent\.
More than 20 states havre[already adopted bell\-to\-bell cellphone bans](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/education-training-labor/many-states-are-banning-cellphones-schools), and early studies show mixed impacts\.[One report found](https://www.theverge.com/policy/922998/do-phone-bans-in-schools-work-kind-of)positive long\-term effects on students’ well\-being, but no evidence of an impact on test scores\.[Another found](https://www.educationnext.org/can-banning-cellphones-save-student-learning-evidence-florida-mandate/)higher suspension rates in the first year of a ban, that later returned to normal levels, and a decrease in unexcused absences\.
**Follow topics and authors**from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates\.
- Lauren Feiner
Czech government approves a ban on mobile phones in kindergartens and elementary schools starting September 2027, replacing individual school policies.
The article argues that banning social media for kids addresses symptoms but not root causes, citing enforcement difficulties and potential new risks, while noting recent bans in Australia, UAE, UK, and France.
Scientists argue that social media bans for teenagers lack scientific evidence and may pose risks, based on a review of experimental studies showing weak or harmful effects in adults, with no studies on under-16s.
After the town of Bandera, Texas voted to terminate its contract with Flock Safety AI license plate reader cameras, councilmember Jeff Flowers retaliated by proposing a ban on cell phones, internet, cameras, and nearly all technology within city limits, citing a desire for privacy.
A blog post discussing a viral video of bystanders confronting a man filming teenage girls on a train, using it to critique current tech policies that target young people's phone usage while protecting perpetrators with power. The author argues that smartphone regulation unfairly punishes youth and ignores real-world power dynamics.