Like many college students, I am addicted to my phone. I catch myself reaching for it during lectures, aware that it has chipped away at my attention span. Scientists have studied the effects of screens on the brain and determined that the technology comes at a cost. Even the presence of a smartphone on a desk can lower recall accuracy, undermining our ability to retain information. Like any addiction, the phone is hard to quit. More and more schools are starting to take notice, placing restrictions on screens in the classroom. It’s time for all GW professors to follow suit.

This shift began at the high school level, with D.C. Public High Schools among the latest to join in. Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, high school students will lose access to their phones. The rules and regulations are a bit abstract, since there are no solid storage policies put into place during the school day, but as of right now, students won’t be permitted to have their phones on them from “bell-to-bell.” I think DCPS is making the right move — education should always come first, and it cannot when kids are distracted by their phones. It is a good start to establishing the boundaries between school and screens, and ensuring that students are present in the classroom and real life. 

GW should pay attention. Students in class are often consumed by their screens, checking texts or listening to music with an AirPod in. As a community filled with future leaders, it is essential that we commit to prioritizing education, not distraction. Students should be fully present during class discussions, engaged during lectures and not undermining their learning by endlessly scrolling through Instagram and enforcing boundaries can be the way. Phones aren’t the only issue — students are surrounded by screens constantly, from laptops to iPads. 

The phone ban isn’t wholly new — DC middle schools implemented the ban during the 2023-2024 school year, and other high schools nationwide have done the same. Some universities also already enforce phone policies. For instance, NYU prohibits the use of phones, laptops and tablets unless explicitly used for notetaking. Studies have shown that similar bans have improved academic performance. 

I am not advocating for professors to lock our screens away before class. I understand that as college students we are responsible for our education. Still, no one is immune to distraction, and just because we are adults doesn’t mean we don’t benefit from boundaries. Setting a clear grade deduction in every syllabus if screens are spotted in class would do just that.

I’ve seen the benefits of a no screens environment firsthand. The University Honors Program at GW had a strict screen ban for all classes on the syllabus during my freshman year. They enforced this through the class participation points. Outside of the UHP, courses that utilize participation points could deduct points per screen sighting, which could result in a significant behavioral change. In larger lecture halls, teacher’s assistants could do a sweep of the classroom to ensure the policy is being followed accordingly. The knowledge that having your phone out could impact your grade would be enough to make many students think twice about checking Instagram. 

The blanket phone ban in the UHP definitely improved my first year experience. Without the constant temptation of notifications, I paid more attention to class discussions and was able to connect with the content more deeply. I was forced to actually engage with my classes and learn the material — something that I would not have done to the same extent if screens had been allowed. While my high school allowed computers but not phones, the program takes it a step further by encouraging handwritten notes and face-to-face interactions. It has been proven that taking notes by hand is better for memory retention — which has helped me with studying for some of my classes — and the lack of screens allows for my classmates and I to get to know each other without digital distractions. 

Research consistently shows a strong link between phone usage and poor academic performance. According to one study, which measured the number of times students switched between checking their phones and focusing on the lesson, the students performed worse when they were on their phones more. In 2024, a pilot study by researchers at the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University also found that banning cell phones during class improved students’ attention and engagement. 

A phone policy at GW wouldn’t infantilize students, but it would help support them. Professors should be conscious of the impact that screens can have on students — they’re both distracting and irresistible, which becomes a double-edged sword that can result in a dip in your grades. The classroom should be protected from distraction. This change has already been implemented elsewhere — it’s not out of the question.