There are over a million Americans who are set to be banned from using their cell phones under a shocking new law.
This comes after New Jersey became the latest state to implement the new rule which will put a stop to students in public schools from using smart devices during school hours.
The bill was signed into law by the state’s governor last Thursday (January 8), which aims to help children face less distractions in their education.
New Jersey is one of 27 states across the US who have put these restrictions into place with others including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and New York.
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New Jersey state governor, Phil Murphy, said: “We are ensuring New Jersey schools are a place for learning and engagement, not distracting screens that detract from academic performance.”
In a statement, Murphy went on to say: “Teachers report that students are more focused, less anxious, and they are socializing and laughing with each other, not through a screen, but in hallways and classrooms.
“By getting rid of needless distractions, we are fundamentally changing our schools' learning environments and encouraging our children to be more attentive and engaged during the school day.
“This is a sensible policy that will make a world of difference for our children.”
The first state to pass this type of law was Florida back in 2023.
Speaking to PBS, Shannon Moser, who is a New Yorker and the parent of two teens, discussed the news of Florida’s bill in 2023, saying: “Everything is just so politicized, so divisive. And I think parents just fear what’s happening with their kids during the day.”
Last year, New York passed a new policy to ban ‘bell-to-bell’ cell phone use in schools.
One parent wrote online: “Given the many terrifying things that can and do happen in today’s schools, something about not having a direct line to her when she’s away from me just doesn’t sit well.
“Between the threats of a school shooting and bullying, a parent’s mind is always swirling with worst-case scenarios.
“A quick ‘Hi Mom’ or being able to ask, ‘how’s the day going?’ goes a long way in easing these concerns, not just for parents, but kids, too.”
But it doesn’t look like this is going to stop US states from implementing these restrictions.