A new white paper from Learning.com and Whiteboard Advisors found that at least 39 states have passed legislation restricting student cellphone use since 2023, but interviews with superintendents, state education technology directors, researchers and practitioners suggest banning or limiting the use of these devices on school grounds should be a first step.
While device restrictions can reduce distractions during school hours, they don’t equip students with the skills they need to manage attention, social pressure or “algorithm-driven content” outside the classroom. Currently, while most state education leaders have adopted cellphone restrictions or are considering them, only 60 percent reported that their state is also supporting digital citizenship education for students.
“Across the country, momentum behind classroom device restrictions reflects real, immediate challenges. School leaders are working to protect instructional time, re-engage students in learning, and reduce social disruptions that can ripple from screens into classrooms. Smartphones have become an ‘always-on’ presence: deeply personal, socially consequential, and difficult to manage through informal norms alone,” the paper states. “When expectations are unclear or inconsistently enforced, schools often find themselves pulled into ongoing conflict between students and staff, among peers, and with families who want reassurance that learning is prioritized and students are safe. In this environment, clear, developmentally appropriate boundaries can help restore focus, reinforce routines, and strengthen the conditions for learning.
“But boundaries alone are not a strategy. Students’ digital lives do not begin and end at the classroom door. Whether they use smartphones, tablets, laptops, or shared devices at home, the digital world remains constant, persuasive, and increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI-enabled tools,” researchers continued. “That reality makes self-regulation and skill-building non-optional parts of a coherent educational technology strategy. Young people need explicit instruction and repeated opportunities to practice managing attention, evaluating information, safeguarding personal data, communicating responsibly, and navigating online spaces in ways that support their well-being.”
According to experts cited in the paper, local educational agencies shouldn’t wait for a dedicated course or curriculum overhaul to start building student digital skills — instruction that’s fast, integrated and immediately relevant is already working in schools across the country.
Learning.com CEO Lisa O’Masta, for example, detailed one classroom activity illustrating that point: a teacher has students download TikTok’s license agreement, feeds it into ChatGPT, and asks the artificial intelligence (AI) platform to summarize how TikTok uses their data. “In a single lesson, students learn how to write a prompt, understand what a license agreement actually says, and discover that the app is collecting far more than they realized. The outcome: nearly half of students remove TikTok from their phones after the lesson,” O’Masta explained.
The value of partnerships
Technology will always outpace curriculum, as does the landscape of threats students face — from deepfakes to data exploitation to weaponized misinformation — which is why the white paper calls on schools to work with a digital literacy partner. The paper lays out a framework for what districts should look for in a partnership, such as strong alignment with International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and state standards, a comprehensive and integrated solution that evolves in real time, flexibility for lessons of varying lengths, compatibility across learning management platforms and meaningful reporting for accountability.
Other characteristics to look for when considering a potential partner include:
- Ease of deployment: Beyond ensuring that the curriculum can be used with students in various settings, it must also be able to accommodate multiple learning management platforms or through a single sign-on. Compatibility with commonly used programs ensures a smooth implementation, as does its ability to run on most internet connected devices, including PCs, Macs, Chromebooks and tablets.
- Teacher-friendly: Ensure partners are able to support teachers with training and resources such as a deep library of videos, planning and how-to guides, pacing calendars and FAQs to help teachers answer any questions.
- Student-friendly: Partnering with organizations that offer fun and engaging lessons that motivate students to take online safety seriously is crucial. Whether that’s through competitive games, group projects or mock scenarios, those interviewed for the white paper note that students learn best when the material connects to real-world scenarios. Products should also be accessible for English learners and students with disabilities.
