Smartphones at School? Not Even a Close Call

There’s a lot of talk lately about whether or not children should have smartphones at school. As someone who went to school long before the internet, I’m struggling with how this is even a discussion. When I was growing up, I loved watching television. If I had a TV that fits in my pocket back then that I could take to school and check every few minutes, I would have been glued to the screen. I’m pretty sure this would have led to me learning about 90% less in class.

Schools have enough trouble dealing with the diminished attention spans of our children. Children are in school for a specific purpose: to get an education and learn information that can help them succeed in life. It is hard enough to keep their attention when they are so used to multimedia shows on their computers and smartphones. Allowing them access to something that has diminished their attention spans isn’t good. It can also get in the way of children's developing social skills, such as making friends and interacting with others in their class.

Maintaining Focus

Education depends on children's ability to maintain their focus and attention on learning. Life is not always going to be presented to them in two-minute chunks. They’re going to have to be able to concentrate long enough to accomplish their goals. How can they be expected to do this if they’re constantly distracted by their concerns about what’s happening on TikTok?

Looking at it from a wider perspective, are smartphones or unlimited computer access good for children still developing their emotional and cognitive abilities? Whether it’s at school or home, social media can be tough on kids. With all of the bullying, depression, and even suicidal ideation that swirls around youth today, perhaps we should reconsider whether it’s in their best interest to have smartphones or unrestricted access to computers. While I realize it could create World War III in your household if you try to limit these things, the question is whether it’s in their best interest to have them.

We restrict things we consider harmful to children all the time. They don’t get to have ice cream for dinner; they don’t get to stay up until 2 am on school nights; they don’t get to take trips to Europe by themselves, etc. While we all want them to be happy and feel good about us and their lives, some limits are necessary. It is up to us to set boundaries that we think are in their best interests. Yet, most of us find it very difficult to do this with our smartphones and computer access.

Overwhelming Social Pressure

I can understand that parents may have a difficult time doing this. Yet, social media can be a real danger to children on several levels. Think about this: When we were children, there may have been other kids who were mean to us. Maybe an entire clique of kids who didn’t like us. That was difficult, right? Now fast-forward to today. Instead of a classmate or two being mean to them, there may be hundreds, even thousands, of kids who pile on negative comments. Young egos are fragile enough. This kind of negative attention can be devastating. When you factor in that comments or pictures can go viral on social media, suddenly, the pressure can be completely overwhelming.

The bottom line is that unrestricted use of smartphones can lead to situations that teens may not be developmentally prepared to handle. By limiting the sites they can access and making sure they can’t distract themselves at school, we can aid them in their journey. Flip phones can still allow them to reach us if they need us. They don’t need the distractions of smartphones.

When I was 12, I would have loved to have access to a television at school. Now, as an adult, I’m well aware of why it wouldn’t have been a good idea, and my parents would not have entertained the idea of me having one. Today, every time a child sneaks a peek at a smartphone in school, they’re being distracted from what is being taught to them in their classroom. This is not even a close call. They need to learn to delay the gratification of being constantly online and develop the patience and focus they need to move forward successfully.