Phones in School: Finding the Balance

One of the biggest debates in today's world is whether phones have a positive or negative impact on everyday life. As technology keeps advancing, so does the world's concern, but also excitement. Focusing on smartphones, many people have begun to learn they can be a very powerful tool while also having increased negative properties. The real answer is unclear; most educators believe smartphones are a distraction and only that. Though others believe they are a true source of great information, opportunities, and ideas. 

On the positive side, smartphones give students the immediate ability to research and access information. Though they have been said to create substantial distraction, it still helps students grow independent learning. Phones keep people organized through reminders, note-taking, and planning. They have become a big part in everyday life. The human brain is not perfect, though with a phone students can increase memory through calendars and scheduling. According to Cross River Therapy, humans forget about 50% of the information recently learned in the span of an hour. With smartphones, this percentage decreases. Most phones come with a built-in calendar which makes remembering dates and schedules much easier, especially on top of the increased stress in schools. Outside of academics, phones are a quick and reliable way for kids to reach parents during emergencies. Thus, phones ensure the safety of students by also giving them access to emergency services by simply dialing three numbers. 
 

However, the disadvantages and problems concerning smartphones cannot be neglected. As commonly expressed, smartphones are a huge distraction to education. From the pinging of notifications to the continuous texting, students tend to ignore their surroundings and struggle to focus back on learning after once being interrupted by these phones. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat create false visuals and expectations of physical appearance. This is a widely known problem in mental health today. Students have constant access to modified images and built stereotypes that are causing kids to feel self-conscious. This triggers anxiety and also opens cyberbullying into the mix. The Cyberbullying Research Center states, "Approximately 58% of the students in our 2025 sample reported that they experienced cyberbullying." This also creates even more pressure for students to look a certain way. People become harsher online because they're hiding behind a screen and the bully cannot see the person's reaction; they tend to underestimate the intensity of the situation and ignore how deep words can cut. Therefore, phones can both create a distraction and increase mental health issues.

So, what does this mean? Well, there is no right or wrong answer, and also no true solution. The debate about banning smartphones is widely opinion-based and ongoing. Schools may report better with phones being removed during school hours, or others may need different policies. What remains clear is that smartphones can become distractions and social pressure, while also being quite beneficial to academics and organization. Thus, the views and truth in this big debate are extremely complex, and finding a balance may become a very important key to shaping the future.