For the first time, more Americans support than oppose preventing students from using cellphones for the entire school day. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 48% of US adults now back bell-to-bell bans for middle and high school students, up 12 percentage points from 36% in 2024. Opposition sits at 43%, with 8% unsure.
The shift marks a significant change in public opinion. Just two years ago, all-day bans were a minority position. Today they are the plurality view, and the trend line suggests majority support is within reach.
Classroom-only restrictions remain far more popular: 77% of adults support banning phones during instructional time, up from 68% in 2024 and 74% in 2025. Only 18% oppose in-class bans. The numbers come from a Pew survey of US adults conducted May 26 through June 1, 2026.
Demographic splits persist. Younger adults remain less enthusiastic about both classroom and all-day bans than their older counterparts, though support has increased across every age group measured since 2024. Meanwhile, more states have enacted school phone restrictions, with Education Week tracking a growing patchwork of policies across the country.
A separate Pew survey from fall 2025 found that only 17% of teens themselves support full-day bans, while 73% oppose them. Teen support for classroom-only bans stands at 41%, still well below the adult figure.
The Pew data arrives as school districts nationwide weigh competing pressures: parental concern about screen time and distraction, student pushback against perceived overreach, and the practical challenge of enforcing bans across thousands of students.
Sources: Pew Research Center (Jul 29, 2026); The Verge (Jul 29, 2026); 9to5Mac (Jul 29, 2026)