We surveyed 1,500 Florida kids about cellphones and their mental health – what we learned suggests school phone bans may have important but limited effects
- Written by Justin D. Martin, Associate Professor of Digital Communication and Journalism, University of South Florida
The debate over banning smartphones in schools rages as more students are bringing phones to schools.Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty ImagesIn Florida, a bill that bans cellphone use in elementary and middle schools, from bell to bell, recently sailed through the state Legislature.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it into law on May 30, 2025. The...









