California Enacts Law to Ban or Restrict Smartphones in Schools, Reports Reuters

By Daniel Trotta

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation requiring schools to restrict or prohibit the use of smartphones, responding to growing concerns over excessive smartphone use and its links to mental health issues and learning difficulties.

This year, thirteen other states have enacted bans or limitations on cellphones in schools or have advised local educators to implement such measures, following Florida’s lead in instituting a ban on classroom phone use.

In California, where nearly 5.9 million students attend public schools, the new law reflects actions taken by Los Angeles County, where the school board prohibited smartphone use for its 429,000 students back in June.

During the same month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy urged for warning labels on social media sites, likening the situation to a mental health crisis similar to the risks associated with tobacco use. Murthy referenced a study in the medical journal JAMA that indicated adolescents using social media more than three hours daily may face a higher risk of mental health issues. Notably, a Gallup poll revealed that the average teenager currently spends 4.8 hours each day on social media.

The California bill received overwhelming support, passing with a vote of 76-0 in the assembly and 38-1 in the senate. It mandates that school boards or governing bodies create a policy to limit or prohibit smartphone use on campuses by July 1, 2026, with a requirement to review and update the policy 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’re in school," Governor Newsom stated.