The backlash against cellphones in schools is gaining momentum. Nearly half of Americans now support an all-day ban.
Two weeks ago, we covered a Gallup survey showing that a majority of Americans support a youth social media ban. (See “The War on Youth Social Media.”) Now, a new Pew survey shows the public is also warming to another technology restriction: a total cellphone ban in schools.
Over the past three years, a majority of Americans have consistently supported banning cellphones during class time. But an all-day ban has been a tougher sell. In 2024, only 36% of Americans supported prohibiting cellphones for the entire school day. Today, that share has surged +12 percentage points to 48%. While just shy of a majority, it’s the first time support for an all-day ban has exceeded opposition.
In the past, Millennial and Gen X parents have been reluctant to support an all-day cellphone ban. Many wanted the ability to contact their children at any time. But we previously predicted that growing distrust of Big Tech would eventually outweigh the desire for 24/7 access. And that appears to be happening. In 2024, only 36% of adults ages 30–49 supported an all-day ban. Today, that share has climbed +14 percentage points to 50%, a larger increase than the national trend. (See “Schools Race To Ban Phones.”)
By next year, we suspect support for an all-day ban will exceed 50% of all Americans.