Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has reignited the national debate on technology in education by calling for a nationwide ban on cellphones in every K-12 classroom. In a powerful speech, she warned that social media algorithms are hooking kids to extreme content, harming their focus, and destroying real-world problem-solving skills.
Backed by bipartisan legislation targeting phones in military children's schools, Slotkin is demanding urgent action — not just on phones, but also on regulating AI in schools before it’s too late.
Is she right to sound the alarm? Or would a full cellphone ban go too far? This video dives into the facts, expert opinions, and what’s at stake for students across the U.S.
00:00To that end, we should ban cell phones in every K-12 classroom in America.
00:14Should cell phones be banned in schools?
00:18That's the question reigniting national debate after Michigan Senator Eliza Slotkin, a Democrat,
00:25publicly called for a nationwide ban on cell phones in every K-2 classrooms across America.
00:34Eliza made her case during a speech at the Center for American Progress Action,
00:40warning that technology, while valuable, is also harming our kids.
00:45Now all of this starts with K-12 education.
00:48Let's state the obvious. We need to recruit and pay teachers better.
00:51We need to reduce class sizes. We need to drastically update our curriculum, especially in science and math.
00:58And we need to thoughtfully introduce AI into schools, balancing the need to prepare young people
01:04with the need to develop good, old-fashioned critical thinking skills.
01:09But as we increase technology in schools, we also have to acknowledge where technology is already harming our kids.
01:16Too many students are lagging in the people and problem-solving skills that will be even more valuable in the future economy.
01:24And that's largely because of social media and cell phones.
01:27To that end, we should ban cell phones in every K-12 classroom in America.
01:33Congress and the courts should hold social media companies accountable for using algorithms
01:39that get our kids addicted to extreme content.
01:43Rules of the road for AI are absolutely vital.
01:47Because if we've learned anything from the internet revolution, the tech industry will not police itself.
01:51Over the past decade, the presence of cell phones in classrooms has exploded.
01:58From communication and research to mental health apps and calculators,
02:03phones have undeniable benefits.
02:06But the downsides, they are growing louder and more alarming.
02:24Research backs her concern.
02:26Multiple studies show a link between excessive phone use and declines in academic performance.
02:32Increased anxiety and reduced face-to-face interaction are also among the consequences.
02:40Teachers report that phones are among the biggest classroom distractions they face today.
02:45But is banning them the answer?
02:49Critics argue that a full ban might go too far.
02:53Phones are often used for emergencies, accessing class material or supporting students with learning disabilities.
03:00Some experts warn that removing phones could disadvantage certain students,
03:06especially those from low-income households who rely on them as digital lifelines.
03:13Eliza, however, isn't alone.
03:15Just last week, she and Republican Senator Jim Banks introduced a bipartisan bill to ban phones in schools for children of U.S. military families.
03:25Beyond cell phones, Eliza's speech touched on AI in schools, warning that we must balance innovation with critical thinking.
03:35She emphasized that need for rules of the road, cautioning that, if left unchecked, AI could follow the same path as social media,
03:45with devastating consequences for young minds.
03:48So what now?
03:49School districts across the country are watching closely.
03:53Some already have partial bans, allowing phones only during breaks.
03:58Others are experimenting with locked pouches, giving teachers full controls over when phones come out.
04:06Ultimately, the debate isn't just about screens.
04:09It's about what kind of learning environment we want for the next generation.
04:13Is it time to ban cell phones for good?
04:17Or do we need smarter, more flexible rules that reflect both dangers and the potential of our tech-driven world?
