Support for school cellphone bans reaches new high, where do you stand?

As back-to-school season gets underway, more Americans now say they support keeping students away from their phones throughout the entire school day.

School is back in session, and support for iPhone-bans in the classroom is growing

Yes, it’s still July, but summer break is somehow already over. My own kids return to school today and tomorrow, marking the second summer where the first day of school doesn’t start with August.

Apple marks the season with its annual Back to School promotion, offering qualifying students and educators gift cards worth up to $150 with eligible Mac and iPad purchases through August 27. Shoppers in several states can also benefit from limited sales tax holidays.

While back-to-school discounts are welcome, smartphone usage during school hours is increasingly not.

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 77% of U.S. adults support banning middle and high school students from using cellphones during class. That figure has increased from 68% in 2024 and 74% in 2025. Only 18% now oppose classroom bans.

Support for a stricter, bell-to-bell ban has risen even faster. For the first time, more Americans support than oppose preventing cellphone use for the entire school day.

About half of U.S. adults (48%) back “bell-to-bell” school cellphone bans for middle and high school students, up from 36% in 2024. Still, 43% oppose the idea, while 8% are not sure.

It also notes that younger adults remain less enthusiastic about both classroom and all-day bans, even though support has increased across every age group measured since 2024. You can read the full report here.

What do you think? Should schools restrict iPhones only during class, enforce bell-to-bell bans, or leave the decision to students and parents? Let us know in the comments.