In today’s world, our phones are essential tools for communication, organization, and learning. After Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) decided to ban cellphones entirely during school hours, many were stuck questioning the decision. Under the policy, phones must be turned off during class, breaks, and passing periods. While the district claims this will improve students focus and mental health, the reality is that the policy might actually create more problems than it solves.
We can all agree that phones can be distracting. Social media, endless notifications, and group chats pull users away from real life. Banning phones completely doesn’t teach teens how to manage these distractions, it just hides the issue. After school, the same apps, messages, and habits are still there. Phones aren’t going away anytime soon, so learning how to balance their use appears to be a much better solution than pretending they don’t exist during school hours.
The bigger issue is that this policy treats every student the same, even though phones are used in different
ways. For some students, phones are necessary to stay organized, communicate with parents, or even cope with anxiety during the day. Many students rely on their phones to obtain information, check schedules, or simply feel grounded when school feels overwhelming. The new rule ignores how often phones are used as more than just entertainment.
Enforcing the policy also poses a challenge. Some schools require phones to be placed in locked pouches, while others just ask students to keep them in their backpacks. This creates an unequal experience across schools and puts pressure on teachers and staff to monitor it. Instead of helping teachers focus on their jobs, it adds another layer of responsibility that does not even lead to an ensured change in student behavior.
While the district hopes students will be more present without their phones, that doesn’t automatically mean they will engage more meaningfully. Taking away phones doesn’t guarantee better focus or increased connection. If anything, it might create more stress for students who feel disconnected from their families or unprepared without access to tools they usually rely on to stay on top of things and communicate.
With Assembly Bill 3216 making its way to Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) and schools across California in July 2026, it’s fair to wonder how it would play out. Many MBUSD students are involved in sports, clubs, jobs, and other after school responsibilities that require frequent communication with parents and teammates. Phones help manage that. Removing access during the day might leave students feeling more anxious and out of control, especially if plans change or an emergency comes up they have no way to respond quickly.
To be fair, the policy is rooted in good intention. Everyone wants students to focus, perform better, and be more mentally present. Yet banning phones entirely isn’t the most effective way to get there. A better approach would be to help students build healthy digital habits. Schools could set reasonable time limits without going to extreme measures. Students already deal with the pressure of maintaining high academic performance while balancing extracurriculars and social life. Phones are a part of managing that pressure and taking that away without offering an alternative could make school feel more overwhelming than it already does.
iPhones aren’t the enemy—poor digital habits are. The only way to build better ones is through trust, education, and balance. If MBUSD ever considers a policy like this, students’ needs should be prioritized over what seems easier to control.
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