More than a dozen states have now enacted policies restricting or banning student phone use during school hours, and for the first time, early evidence is emerging about whether those restrictions are changing teen behavior — and well-being.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, the share of U.S. teens who said they were "almost constantly" online dropped from 46 percent in 2024 to 40 percent in 2025 — a period that coincides with the implementation of phone-restricted school policies across the country.
