Mohammed-Amine RABOIJA

Are Smartphone Bans for Teenagers the Healthiest Approach?

Smartphones have become a central part of modern life, and teenagers are no exception to this trend. However, there is growing evidence of negative mental health outcomes among teenagers associated with the use of smartphones. This has led many politicians and experts to debate the possibility of bans or restrictions on smartphone use for teenagers. In 2023, Florida became the first state in the US to restrict cell phones in schools. Other states, including California, the most populous US state, have followed suit. Across the Atlantic, Members of Parliament in the UK have called for a smartphone ban for under 16-year-olds, while in France, where cell phones in schools have been banned for years, a scientists' report commissioned by the French President urges a ban on social media for under 18-year-olds.