Pros/Cons of Cell Phone Ban

By: Marisol G. ‘25 and Abby B. ‘25

The cell phone epidemic has taken over our world and the tri-schools. In a survey, Pew Research Center discovered that 95% of U.S. teens have access to a cell phone and 46% of surveyed teens reported that they are online “almost constantly.” Teachers want to take our phones away from us, and students are enraged. But we have to ask ourselves: are there some positives in between all of the negatives? Read below for a pros and cons list of the new cell phone policy and Bryn Mawr. 

Pros:

Fewer distractions during class and in other academic spaces:

Students now loathe seeing the pocket holder in the front of each of their classrooms where they have to put their phones at the beginning of every class. Even though this may be an adjustment and admittedly, very annoying, it can be beneficial. Every student, at some point, has been distracted by their phone during class: whether you are actually looking at it, it buzzes in your backpack, or even is just tempting you while sitting on your desk. Eliminating this distraction allows students to focus their full attention on the teacher and their lesson. Additionally, not having phones at all during the day will lead to more productivity in other academic spaces. This includes free periods, time in the library, and ACP for the freshmen. Students will be more productive during this time, because they will be getting their work and studying done instead of looking at social media. 

More social connections between students during community time:

When students cannot turn to their phones for entertainment during community times such as lunch, advisory, and passing periods, they are likely to have more social interactions with both their friends and other students that they may not have talked to otherwise. As we have seen already, when students get their heads out of their devices, they have animated and interesting conversations at the lunch table. Students can also be seen talking to people in other grades and having face-to-face interactions more than they would if their phones were available.

Less loneliness and comparing yourself to others:

Social media also comes with many disadvantages. According to Yale Medicine, in a research study of American teens ages 12-15, “those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.” This is very telling. Social media can have detrimental effects on the mental health of students, and eliminating access to it at least during school hours will be very beneficial. 

Cons:

Safety and Emergency Issues

As students walk to and from the tri-school campuses all day, safety is a major concern. While Bryn Mawr is situated in one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore City, having a phone in your back pocket in case of emergency creates a sense of comfort. Whether it be something major like a lockdown drill or a smaller issue like feeling uncomfortable walking across the bridge, it’s important to be connected to others during times of unease. Without phones, these safety concerns can become more difficult to deal with and leave students feeling concerned about how to deal with an issue without being able to call someone. The importance of phones came up last year when students were dismissed early due to power outages. Many students texted their families and adjusted their plans to get home. This would have been much more complicated and stressful had students not had their phones readily available during this unexpected closing.

Inability to connect with family members and friends

Texting a parent or classmate during lunch or passing period is something that every Bryn Mawr student has done. These texts are important as they can be about where a club is meeting or how to get something you left at home dropped off at school. Many students also have friends from other schools who they enjoy connecting with during their free time, but without their phones, would be unable to do so. The absence of a phone will also make it more difficult for students to contact their parents if they need help making a plan to get home if there are any after-school changes. 

Increased tensions between students and administration

One of the most important relationships in a school is that between the students and the administration. In moments of big change, it is integral that both listen to each other to make sure everyone is on the same page. With many students adamant about keeping their phones, the new phone ban will cause much tension between students and faculty. Students may also choose to disobey this rule and punishments will have to be enforced, making it more difficult for teachers to maintain a positive dynamic.