From my experience, I see students spending countless hours on their phones every day. These devices pull us away from talking to others in person or going outside, replacing real connection with scrolling. As phones slowly steer students away from time in nature and human connection, it’s time to regulate how phones are used.
At Dos Pueblos High School, the Wellness Center coordinator, Angela Montañez, has observed the impact of phones on education and guides students to use technology mindfully.
“I believe that having a cell phone is a distraction and it’s not always a negative distraction, but definitely one that you get so used to happening,” Montañez said. “In my role here, I see it, and I’ve seen … the effects of social media, just being constantly on it, whether it’s internet news, and also a lot of people sometimes don’t sleep, right, because they’re on their phone.”
I have personally noticed that social media is a big problem: I’ve experienced my peers doing this, scrolling mindlessly through short-form content, and realizing they have spent an entire day on their phones.
I have seen firsthand, through my friends, how excessive time on social media can negatively affect students. When my peers spent too much time on their phones, they became distracted from schoolwork and began procrastinating academically.
As a result, their grades and test performance suffered, creating a snowball effect tied to constant phone usage. As grades dropped, so did students’ motivation, leading many to seek comfort in scrolling on social media instead of addressing their school responsibilities.
At DPHS, the cellphone policy requires students’ phones to be “Off and Away” during class, allowing use only during lunch and nutrition.
Since the start of the new year, DPHS has reinforced a strict cellphone policy, with phones being confiscated if used during designated class time. By having phones off and away during class, it eliminates distractions and helps students focus solely on their studies.
This policy directly addresses cellphone distractions I have witnessed among my peers. By keeping phones “Off and Away” during class instruction, classrooms become a more focused environment where students can fully engage in academics.
“I think by having this implementation at the school, and having cell phone hotels where students can actually see where their phone goes, it’s a great idea,” Montañez said.
Despite the drawbacks of cellphone usage, there are benefits, especially the ability to communicate with others over the phone and the improved access to resources.
“I see [phones] utilized and used to be a connection to families who possibly live out of state,” Montañez said. “And you can Google and access things that you may need.”
The right decision is regulation: cellphone usage is an addiction and tied to physical and mental decline. Proper time regulation would allow for phones to be resourceful and limit distraction.
“I always say, ‘as funny as it sounds or as weird as the sound, time yourself,’” Montañez said. “You know, give yourself that time and that availability, so you can also be aware of what’s going on in life.”
Ultimately, with limits, cellphone usage could be reduced, and students would be able to spend more time with people in real life.
