The issue of cell phone overuse, particularly in high schools, has evolved into one of the defining controversial issues within Georgian and national school boards in recent years. While parents almost unanimously speak against phone usage in the classroom, the decision to remove phones from learning environments divided the student body and continues to persist as a heavily debated topic. Phones should not enter school grounds, or at a minimum, should reside in a removed, restricted area that students cannot access while learning. Due to the distracting nature of cell phones and social media, schools and administrators need to understand the serious negative impact cell phones create on student focus and performance.

In recent months, the debate about phone usage in schools, especially in Cobb County persisted. Governor Brian P. Kemp recently signed a measure that will ban cellphones in classrooms for kindergarten through eighth grade, effective July 2026. This decision, one that will positively affect those included, left out the demographic of students who would feel the strongest impact from the strict rules: high schoolers. 

“Everyone is tethered to their phones 24/7. The classroom should be a place for focused, in-person engagement. Responsible use outside the class is fine, but keep instruction time phone-free,” NC parent Matthew Moore said. 

While the reason for excluding high schoolers from the bill remains unclear, certain groups wonder how it will affect school safety. Since the early 2010s, the frequency of school shootings in America has increased significantly when compared to prior years. The majority of parents believe that teachers should closely monitor their children’s phone use in school, excluding situations where their children require immediate access to contact their parents or emergency services during the day. Despite the fact that students detest the idea of a phone ban, school boards entertain various approaches to addressing these issues, such as collecting cell phones as students come into class or putting them into school-issued pouches. This solution ensures safety without compromising student success. Schools across the U.S. find that cell phone usage in class distracts students from their work and from fully absorbing the information.

Unlike other districts in Georgia, the possibility of a phone ban in Cobb County appears a distant possibility. The Cobb County superintendent, Chris Ragsdale, stated that the district’s high schools will not invest or participate in any form of a phone ban; however, students should put away their phones, according to the rules of their schools’ code of conduct. 

All this debate boils down to one question: How does the use of phones take away from academic performance, and will removing them result in any significant impact on student success? Confirmed research from scientists and psychologists suggests that even the presence of phones in the classroom can negatively impact academic performance. According to a study done by the National Library of Medicine, 29.8% to 50% of people showed signs of addiction toward their phones, and that excessive phone usage is linked with increased depression, anxiety and poor sleep quality. Simply put, certain students lack the necessary motivation to engage in their classes and simply turn to their phones to keep them entertained until the end of the day. While certain parents and teachers argue that just taking away phones will not solve the real issue — that students today do not feel the necessary motivation to learn — removing phones will still eliminate a major hurdle that keeps students from reaching their highest potential. In a time where distraction and short-form content exist at the fingertips of the majority of society, the necessity for students to remain focused appears increasingly important.

“I feel like we do need our phones in case of an emergency or in case we need to contact our parents. [In]regular day-to-day situations, no, phones should not be allowed because some people can’t put them down and can’t go without looking at their phone for one second and it’s really distracting. I feel like if you don’t have your phone and don’t have the ability to pick it up, then you will be more focused,” magnet sophomore Faith Clark said.

While student concerns embody the exceedingly real fear of violence for Generation Z, in this case, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. By removing the opportunity for distraction, a window of possibility opens that only a handful of students enjoyed access to before. The majority of high school students know from firsthand experience the difficulty of looking away from the screen and focusing on schoolwork. Numerous teachers, parents, and students also recognize the significant benefits that could come with the implementation of a phone ban in all Cobb County schools. Even though the phone ban might not come to Cobb County anytime soon, students should know that there exists only one obstacle standing between them and success. The solution to disruption amounts to the students’ willingness to learn and ability to free school spaces of distractions without interference from outside forces.