According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, middle and high school students spend over two hours of their school day on smartphones, checking their devices an average of 64 times. Lead researcher Eva Telzer, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said: “Smartphones are no longer something students use occasionally during school, they’re present during every hour of the day.” The study found that frequent phone checking is linked to diminished attention and impulse control, which are essential for academic success. Senior researcher Kaitlyn Burnell noted that social media and entertainment account for over 70% of students’ screen time during school hours. The findings suggest that implementing policies to limit smartphone access during instructional time may enhance students’ focus and engagement.
