Massachusetts AG introduces act that will restrict access to cell phones, personal electronic devices for students; social media companies to implement procedures

BOSTONA — Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Senator Julian Cyr, Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch, and Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian have introduced the STUDY Act, SD654/HD3070, as part of their legislative agenda.An Act that Encourages Youth to Learn Without Distractions and Use Technology Safely. In order to enhance the general learning environment and school culture, the law aims to impose a bell-to-bell ban on cell phone and personal electronic device use during school hours. It also suggests guidelines for social media businesses.

The STUDY Act prioritizes the mental wellness of pupils. We are making significant moves to provide distraction-free learning environments and a digital landscape that puts our children’s wellbeing first by banning cellphones during the school day and setting higher standards for social media firms. According to AG Campbell, this bill demonstrates a commitment to our youth’s education and mental health, giving them the resources they need to thrive without needless harm.

The STUDY Act would mandate that all public schools have official policies governing the use of cell phones, tablets, and other personal electronic devices on school property and during school-sponsored events, as more and more schools implement policies that limit cell phone use during the school day. Every policy must forbid students from physically using their own electronic devices while they are in class. There would be exceptions to the rule in specific situations, as when a student’s needs are met by their health plan or specialized education program.

According to the STUDY Act, schools must also have a policy that informs children about the negative effects social media use can have on their mental, physical, and social well-being. Research has demonstrated the detrimental effects of social media use on mental health, including data presented by the US Surgeon General. For instance, teenage mental health drastically deteriorates after an hour of daily social media use, and there are increases in self-harm, sadness, and behavioral abnormalities along with drops in happiness and self-esteem.

According to Campbel’s Office, using phones in class can cause learning interruptions, attention span shortening, anxiety, unfavorable peer relationships, and a rise in hate crimes, cyberbullying, and harassment. Indeed, according to 72% of high school educators, cell phone use in the classroom is a serious issue.

Additionally, the measure requires social media corporations to put in place policies that include, but are not limited to:

• Age verification system to determine whether a user meets age requirements under law and keep any information about a user s age confidential from third-party use
• Default settings for a minor user to ensure privacy and limit prolonged engagement by disabling features like notifications between certain hours, autoplay, and continuous scrolling
• Features for a user to flag unwanted or harmful content and regular surveys for the user to indicate to the company that they don t want this type of content on their feed
• Regular warnings from social media platforms to the user on the negative effects of social media use on social, emotional and physical health

Members of AG Campbell’s Youth Council provided input throughout the drafting of the STUDY Act.