Many teenagers don’t want schools to ban cellphones all day, but a sizable share say limits during class make sense. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 41% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 support banning cellphone use during class time.
That support drops sharply when the restriction lasts all day. Just 17% of teens back a ban that would prevent cellphone use throughout the entire school day, including lunch and between classes. Nearly three-quarters oppose that idea.
Classroom bans get mixed reviews
Even limits during class divide teens. About half oppose classroom cellphone bans, while 9% say they aren’t sure.
The findings come as schools across the country tighten rules on student phone use and adults increasingly support stricter policies.
Views vary by race and ethnicity
Support for classroom bans differs across groups. Forty-six percent of White teens say they support banning cellphones during class. That share falls to roughly one-third among Hispanic and Black teens.
The same pattern appears for all-day bans, though support remains low across all racial and ethnic groups.
Age, gender, and income make little difference
Younger and older teens hold similar views on classroom bans. Teens ages 13 to 14 are slightly more likely than those 15 to 17 to support an all-day ban, but support remains limited.
Opinions also look similar across gender and household income, suggesting broad agreement among teens on where restrictions go too far.
Teens and adults see phones differently
The survey highlights a sharp generational divide. In a separate Pew survey conducted earlier in 2025, 74% of U.S. adults supported banning cellphone use during class. That compares with 41% of teens.
Adults are also far more likely than teens to favor all-day bans, with 44% supporting them versus just 17% of teens.
Most teens draw a clear line when it comes to cellphone rules at school. Many can accept limits during class, but few want their phones banned for the entire day. The gap between teen and adult views underscores ongoing tension as schools decide how far restrictions should go.
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