While many U.S. schools already prohibit students from using cell phones during class, the states of California and South Carolina, whose authorities announced this today, now appear to be joining this ban on a broader basis.

California Governor Gavin Newsom today sent letters to school districts asking them to restrict access to cell phones in classrooms to “help students focus on lessons by limiting cell phone use.”

Newsom also pointed to the risks to young people’s well-being, an issue that gained attention in June this year when top federal health official Vivek Murthy called on Congress to mandate the posting of warning messages on social media.

At the beginning of the summer, the governor of California declared that he wanted to solve the problem of cell phone use by students. In his letter today, he hinted that he is working with Congress – the state assembly – on a legislative solution.

In 2019, Newsom signed a law empowering school districts to regulate student cell phone use in schools.

The South Carolina State Department of Education is expected to adopt guidelines today to limit cell phone use by students.

Utah, Florida, Louisiana and other states have already done so to reduce student distraction from class by their phones and to address the impact of social media use on young people’s mental health.

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