More Americans now support than oppose all-day school cellphone bans
- Short Reads
- X
- Threads
- K-12
- Mobile
- Teens & Tech
- Teens & Youth
- X
- Threads
|
July 29, 2026
More Americans now support than oppose all-day school cellphone bans
Melrose High School students use their smartphones for an in-class activity. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
About three-quarters of U.S. adults (77%) support in-class cellphone bans for middle and high school students. This finding marks the second consecutive year of rising support for the policy, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted May 26-June 1, 2026. Just 18% say they oppose such a ban, while 6% are unsure.
---
Support for school cellphone bans continues to rise
% of U.S. adults who say they would \\ a ban that prevents middle and high school students from using cellphones during …
Note: “Strongly/Somewhat support” and “Strongly/Somewhat oppose” responses are combined. Those who are not sure or did not answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 26-June 1, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
---
Share on X Share on Facebook
---
Support for school cellphone bans continues to rise
% of U.S. adults who say they would \\ a ban that prevents middle and high school students from using cellphones during …
| | Support | Oppose | | --------------------- | ------- | ------ | | Class | | | | 2026 | 77 | 18 | | 2025 | 74 | 19 | | 2024 | 68 | 24 | | The entire school day | | | | 2026 | 48 | 43 | | 2025 | 44 | 46 | | 2024 | 36 | 53 |
---
Download data as .csv
Note: “Strongly/Somewhat support” and “Strongly/Somewhat oppose” responses are combined. Those who are not sure or did not answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 26-June 1, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
---
ChartData
Download ImageShare
And for the first time, more Americans now support than oppose a ban on students using cellphones during the entire school day.
About half of U.S. adults (48%) back “bell-to-bell” school cellphone bans for middle and high school students, up from 36% in 2024. Still, 43% oppose the idea, while 8% are not sure.
This growth in support for all-day cellphone bans comes as more states have enacted such policies. In a 2025 survey by the Center, majorities of U.S. adults said all-day bans would improve students’ grades, social skills and class behavior. Far fewer said the same about students’ physical safety.
About this research
This Pew Research Center analysis looks at Americans’ views of cellphone bans in schools for middle and high school students.
#### Why did we do this?
Pew Research Center does research to inform the public, journalists and decision-makers. This research builds on our past work studying Americans’ views of school cellphone bans, as well as teens’ uses, views and experiences with smartphones.
#### How did we do this?
We surveyed 9,750 U.S. adults from May 26 to June 1, 2026. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel. The survey represents the views of the full U.S. adult population.
Here are the questions we used for this analysis, the topline and the survey methodology.
#### Views by age
Support for in-class and all-day cellphone bans is lower among the youngest adults. Still, support for both policies has increased among all age groups since 2024, when we first asked.
---
Younger adults express less support for school cellphone bans than older adults
% of U.S. adults who say they would support a ban that prevents middle and high school students from using cellphones during …
Note: “Strongly/Somewhat support” responses are combined. Those who gave other responses or did not answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 26-June 1, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
---
Share on X Share on Facebook
---
Younger adults express less support for school cellphone bans than older adults
% of U.S. adults who say they would support a ban that prevents middle and high school students from using cellphones during …
| | Demographic | Class | The entire school day | | ------------ | ----------- | ----- | --------------------- | | U.S. adults | U.S. adults | 77 | 48 | | Ages 18-29 | Age | 57 | 28 | | 30-49 | Age | 77 | 50 | | 50-64 | Age | 83 | 55 | | 65+ | Age | 85 | 57 | | Rep/Lean Rep | Party | 81 | 55 | | Dem/Lean Dem | Party | 74 | 44 |
---
Download data as .csv
Note: “Strongly/Somewhat support” responses are combined. Those who gave other responses or did not answer are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 26-June 1, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
---
ChartData
Download ImageShare
Majorities of all age groups support an in-class ban. Roughly six-in-ten adults under 30 (57%) favor the idea – on par with last year but up from 45% in 2024. Support is far higher among older age groups.
When it comes to all-day bans, 28% of adults under 30 express support. By comparison, at least half of Americans 30 and older back all-day bans.
#### Views by party
There is broad support in both parties for in-class cellphone bans, though more so among Republicans. About eight-in-ten Republicans and Republican leaners (81%) favor the idea, as do 74% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
A majority of Republicans (55%) back all-day cell phone bans for middle and high school students, compared with 44% of Democrats.
Note: Here are the questions we used for this analysis, the topline and the survey methodology.
**Want timely insights?
Topics
Share This Link:
Jeffrey Gottfried is an associate director focusing on internet and technology research at Pew Research Center.