California passes law to ban or restrict smartphone use at school

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on Monday a bill requiring schools to limit or ban the use of smartphones.

The decision came amid a growing consensus that excessive use can increase the risk of mental illness and impair learning.

Thirteen other states this year have banned or restricted cell phones in school or recommended local teachers do so, after Florida led the way by banning phones in the classroom in 2023, according to Education Week.

The California bill, which passed 76-0 in the state assembly and 38-1 in the senate, requires school boards or other governing bodies to develop a policy to limit or ban smartphone use on campus by July 1. 2026 and update policies every five years.

“We know that excessive smartphone use increases anxiety, depression and other mental health issues – but we have the power to intervene. This new law will help students focus on academics, social development and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they are at school," Newsom said in a statement. /Telegraph/