Webinar: To Ban or Not to Ban: Tackling Cellphones in Classrooms

When:  Jul 17, 2025 from 14:00 to 14:45 (ET)



Eliminating students' use of smartphones during the school day is right in concept but challenging in execution. Students would absolutely benefit from less distraction from phones and social media, and more in-person interaction at school. The challenge for schools comes not in establishing these policies but in enforcing these policies, which requires diligent participation from the whole community. School policies should be accompanied with learning about digital citizenship and proper phone etiquette to help kids learn the challenges and benefits of technology and how to establish healthy digital habits. This will serve them well not just in school, but for the rest of their lives.

This session will address students' digital well-being beyond phone bans with evidence-based lessons designed to help build agency, reduce anxious thoughts, and increase mindfulness related to their tech habits. Attendees will receive hands-on experiences illustrating activities centered on digital well-being strategies for students.

Key Take Aways:

  • Identify opportunities to pair digital citizenship implementation with cellphone bans or policies
  • develop a whole community approach to addressing device bans/policies
  • Learn from colleagues to reference best practices
Presenter:

Merve Lapus

Vice President, Education Outreach & Engagement
Common Sense Media
Richmond, California