---
title: "More Americans now support than oppose all-day school cellphone bans"
description: "Three-quarters of U.S. adults support in-class school cellphone bans, and for the first time, more now support than oppose all-day bans for middle and high schoolers."
date: "2026-07-29"
authors:
  - name: "Jeffrey Gottfried"
    job_title: "Associate Director, Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jeffrey-gottfried/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/29/more-americans-now-support-than-oppose-all-day-school-cellphone-bans/"
categories:
  - "K-12"
  - "Mobile"
  - "Teens & Tech"
  - "Teens & Youth"
---

# More Americans now support than oppose all-day school cellphone bans

![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_featured.png?w=640)

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 …*

|  | Support | Oppose | Class |  |  | The entire school day |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | 77 | 18 | 2025 | 74 | 19 | 2024 | 68 | 24 |
| 2026 | 48 | 43 | 2025 | 44 | 46 | 2024 | 36 | 53 |

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.

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](https://www.edweek.org/technology/which-states-ban-or-restrict-cellphones-in-schools/2024/06). 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](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/16/americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year/). 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](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/16/americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year/), as well as [teens’ uses](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-technology-2024/), [views and experiences](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/03/11/how-teens-and-parents-approach-screen-time/) 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](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_questionnaire.pdf), the [topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_methodology.pdf).

#### 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 …*

|  | 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 |

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.

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](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_questionnaire.pdf), the [topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2026/07/SR_26.07.29_cellphone-ban_methodology.pdf).*