NJ commission suggests bell-to-bell cellphone bans for all school districts
Jersey City schools have already put in place a cellphone ban during the school day.
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The New Jersey Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents suggests that school districts should adopt and implement bell-to-bell cellphone bans.
The commission issued its report on Monday on how communities can address issues such as cyberbullying, addictive use, sleep disruption and mental health decline.
“This report is a roadmap for action. Social media has rewired childhood, and the stakes could not be higher,” commission co-chairs Pearl Gabel and Charles Gelinas wrote in a statement. “New Jersey has the opportunity to lead the nation and prove that when it comes to our children, safety and well-being come first.”
Some recommendations include:
School districts implementing a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones
Parents delaying children’s access to social media
The commission also suggests that social media companies should:
Restrict access for users under the age of 16
Provide tools for parents to better navigate social media use with their children
Develop and improve resources to protect users
The full report can be found on the New Jersey Department of Education’s website.
