Cell Phones

 Reason -  Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order mandating the introduction of "cell phone–free education" in Virginia public schools. "The necessity of implementing cell phone–free education in Virginia's K-12 public schools is increasingly evident," Youngkin's order reads. "Parents, public health professionals, educators and other stakeholders across the Commonwealth are expressing concern over the alarming mental health crisis and chronic health conditions affecting adolescents, such as depression and anxiety, driven in part by extensive social media usage and widespread cell phone possession among children. Cell phone–free education will significantly reduce the amount of time students can be on phones without parental supervision."

Youngkin's directive orders state health and education bureaucrats to draft guidelines for schools, including a detailed definition of "cell phone–free education," model implementation plans, and alternatives for parents to contact their children when necessary during the school day….Some critics have been suspicious of the widespread claims that phone use is the direct cause of increases in teen anxiety and depression. A much better case can be made that phones simply distract students, making teaching more difficult.