Students, teachers, parents: What do you think about banning cellphones in Mass. schools?

Should cellphones be banned in schools across Massachusetts?

Some state lawmakers think so. But do you?

Earlier this month, bills to restrict cellphones and other personal electronics during school hours were proposed in the Senate and House. The effort is backed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell and aims to improve the "overall learning environment and school culture."

The so-called STUDY Act (SD654/HD3070) would also require schools to educate students about the emotional and physical harms of social media, and would call on social media companies to implement safeguards for minors on their platforms.

Calls to curb cellphone usage in schools have been increasing in recent years, as research continues to show that it can be detrimental to learning and young people's mental health. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory, highlighting the harms of social media use on youths.

A number of schools in Massachusetts have already adopted similar policies in their halls. For example, Brockton, Salem and Chicopee high schools implemented lock pouches for students to place their phones in during class.

Whether you're a student, teacher or parent, we want to know what you think of the proposed tech ban. Should cellphones be allowed to be used during the school day? Tell us your thoughts in the form below, and we could feature your response in future stories.