When I visit schools across the country, I am consistently surprised that students, parents and even teachers are frequently unsure of the cell phone policies at their school. I have found very little information about the breakdown of school policies concerning cell phones. Wouldn't it be great if we had data on how often middle schools allow students to have cell phones with them all day? And wouldn’t it be great if we knew what policies parents want? Sadly this collective information does not exist. Cell phones in our schools is a quickly changing landscape and research does not do well under pressure, but it is still needed.
Our weekly Tech Talk Tuesday newsletter is a perfect opportunity to start collecting some data on cell phone policies. I created a very short survey to ask you what policies exist at your student’s school and what policies you think would be ideal. We timed the survey and it only takes 1 minute!
If you don't know the rules, please talk with your kids to find out what they know. If you are both unsure, don’t worry there are still questions you can answer on the survey.
We thank you so very much for taking the time to do this survey! Join us on Facebook where we will post the survey results in the near future. We will also discuss the results in a future TTT.
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Register your interest in bringing our new movie to your school or community
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Register your interest in bringing our new movie to your school or community
As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.
Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.
When I visit schools across the country, I am consistently surprised that students, parents and even teachers are frequently unsure of the cell phone policies at their school. I have found very little information about the breakdown of school policies concerning cell phones. Wouldn't it be great if we had data on how often middle schools allow students to have cell phones with them all day? And wouldn’t it be great if we knew what policies parents want? Sadly this collective information does not exist. Cell phones in our schools is a quickly changing landscape and research does not do well under pressure, but it is still needed.
Our weekly Tech Talk Tuesday newsletter is a perfect opportunity to start collecting some data on cell phone policies. I created a very short survey to ask you what policies exist at your student’s school and what policies you think would be ideal. We timed the survey and it only takes 1 minute!
If you don't know the rules, please talk with your kids to find out what they know. If you are both unsure, don’t worry there are still questions you can answer on the survey.
We thank you so very much for taking the time to do this survey! Join us on Facebook where we will post the survey results in the near future. We will also discuss the results in a future TTT.
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
We respect your privacy.
When I visit schools across the country, I am consistently surprised that students, parents and even teachers are frequently unsure of the cell phone policies at their school. I have found very little information about the breakdown of school policies concerning cell phones. Wouldn't it be great if we had data on how often middle schools allow students to have cell phones with them all day? And wouldn’t it be great if we knew what policies parents want? Sadly this collective information does not exist. Cell phones in our schools is a quickly changing landscape and research does not do well under pressure, but it is still needed.
Our weekly Tech Talk Tuesday newsletter is a perfect opportunity to start collecting some data on cell phone policies. I created a very short survey to ask you what policies exist at your student’s school and what policies you think would be ideal. We timed the survey and it only takes 1 minute!
If you don't know the rules, please talk with your kids to find out what they know. If you are both unsure, don’t worry there are still questions you can answer on the survey.
We thank you so very much for taking the time to do this survey! Join us on Facebook where we will post the survey results in the near future. We will also discuss the results in a future TTT.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the country, just approved districtwide screen time limits starting in the 2026–27 school year. Students through 1st grade won't use school devices, grades 2–5 will move from 1-to-1 iPads to shared laptop carts, and older students will face screen time limits with YouTube blocked. Devices also won't be allowed during passing periods, lunch, or recess. Credit goes to the parent- and teacher-led group Schools Beyond Screens, whose organizing and advocacy work helped make it happen.
READ MORE >
This year, millions of students are experiencing a major shift: school days without phones, smartwatches, or other personal devices. Today we explore the wins, hurdles, and solutions helping schools succeed. We also share our resources that you can use to support technology policy changes in your schools.
READ MORE >
I recently sat down with middle school principal Zach at his school in Washington State. We talked about the challenges Zach and his team faced in his early years as principal when students used phones during school, and how he brought about a powerful transformation by having phones and smartwatches put away in locked pouches for the whole school day. In today’s blog, to raise awareness of the challenges, I share five real examples from Zach of the troubling ways students use phones at school to be unkind.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
