When New York students return to class for the 2025-26 school year, they will face a major change: a new law banning phone usage from the first bell to the last.

Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in May, the law aims to “protect youth mental health and promote student success in the digital age.” However, it has stirred unrest among students across the state, who question how practical or necessary the policy really is.

“This law is definitely doing much more than what needs to be done,” Samuel Bokor, a student at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, told the News “[Phones are] not that huge of a problem – at least in our school.” 

While Bokor recognizes the potential advantages of a phone-free school setting, he argues that the law goes too far, especially during time outside the classroom. For him, regulating phone use even during free periods is “kind of overkill.”

 Bokor also emphasized that many students rely on their phones to complete schoolwork. 

“Especially at our school, a lot of kids do work in the library, in the hallway, on their phone and other devices,” Bokor said. “I definitely do. It’s going to be a lot harder without them.” 

In Bokor’s view, handling phone misuse is the responsibility of teachers, not legislators. 

However, Bokor has admitted to averaging over four hours of screen time, which is twice as much as that of a student attending Jericho High School in Long Island. Like Bokor, the Jericho student also questioned the law’s necessity. 

While the student did not see a problem with safety issues that may arise from banning phone use, he acknowledged that “safety issues would be for the students with medical complications.”.

The law includes exemptions for students with documented medical needs or an individualized education program, or IEP, allowing them access to devices during the day when necessary.

Despite his doubts, the Jericho student believes that school life with the new law should be manageable. 

“I never really used my phone that much anyway during school hours,” the student said.

The law applies to both public and private schools. Jenna Chan, a private school student, is more concerned with the safety risks that emerge. 

“What happens if there’s a fire? A lockdown? An active shooter? How would we contact our parents?” Chan said. 

However, the promised benefits of the new phone law resonated with Chan. For Chan, the law could be a “double-edged sword” that ultimately prevents distractions and helps her focus on her schoolwork.

This article was written for the Yale Daily News’ 2025 Summer Journalism Program for high school students.