Parents of children and teens with access to cellphones are well-versed in the battle for attention and the well-documented mental health pitfalls that come with unfettered access to social media.
According to the U.S. surgeon general, social media use among youth is high — up to 95 percent of teenagers and a surprising 40 percent of children ages 8 to 12 are engaging with social media. While social media comes with benefits — particularly among marginalized youth, like those in the LGBTQ+ community — evidence largely shows that children and adolescents on social media are exposed to inappropriate and harmful content. Those who engage for more than three hours a day have double the risk for mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the surgeon general says recent surveys show most teens are on social media for three and a half hours a day.
Tech distraction and addiction are also realities — for children, teens and even adults. Attention span and focus are shortened with regular smartphone use, according to studies completed by the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in 2021 and a 2019 study published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.
The Sag Harbor School District has announced plans to make Pierson Middle-High School a phone-free space during the 2023-24 school year — a decision that all neighboring districts should seriously consider as well, in support of an educational environment that is equitable and focused on the well-being of its student body first and foremost.
The idea was floated in March, in a presentation facilitated by Pierson Middle-High School Principal Brittany Carriero and School Board Vice President Jordana Sobey, after the district’s shared decision-making committee asked the district to reexamine its cellphone policy. Carriero reported that the devices are indeed a distraction for students, and while they are asked to put their phones away in the classroom, students are often going to the bathroom and finding other ways to check in with friends, family and social media feeds during school hours.
In 2023-24, the district will use Yondr, a locked magnetized pouch in which a student’s phone must be stored during the school day. Smartwatches and earbuds also can be stored in the Yondr pouch, which is frequently used at entertainment venues where artists do not want guests to use or be distracted by their smartphones. The phones are unlocked as students leave at the end of the day.
It’s a trailblazing moment, regionally, and one to be commended. With declining mental health on the rise, particularly in a post-COVID-19 world, ensuring that our schools are a place where students can be fully engaged with educators, and each other, is the least we can do for our children.
