Seven Days: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Smartphones in Vermont Schools
- lizaearle
- Feb 9
- 1 min read
By Allison Novak
Jan. 29, 2025
A bill that would prohibit students from using cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day was introduced on Wednesday in the Vermont House Education Committee. H.54 would also prohibit schools from communicating with students through social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.
State Rep. Angela Arsenault (D-Williston), one of the bill's 49 sponsors, told committee members that the bill presented lawmakers with "the opportunity to take decisive action on an identified problem in schools " and "help increase student academic success, improve mental health and increase social cohesion."
Research shows that teenagers are spending more and more time using social media on their phones. Many experts, including former U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy, believe the heavy exposure to social media has contributed to an alarming increase in youth anxiety and depression. Meanwhile, Vermont teachers and administrators report that students are having an increasingly difficult time paying attention in class and interacting with their peers... read the full article here.
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