Institute for Families and Technology (IFT)

“Everyone in America can do their part to make a change, to get involved, to show up at an event or learn something more.” — Kristin Bride, parent survivor advocate featured in Your Attention Please and founder of the Carson J. Bride Effect. Learn more and find ways to take action at The Social Reset: socialreset.org/ #TheSocialReset

In this op-ed, Kent DelHousaye, president of @factennessee, makes the case for improving on the state’s C grade on the Phone-Free School Report card by implementing a bell-to-bell policy that keeps phones, smartwatches, and other personal devices securely stored throughout the entire school day. Tennessee already restricts phones in classrooms, but as DelHousaye argues, that doesn’t go far enough. Students deserve a school day focused on learning, connection, and being present. Read the full op-ed here: bit.ly/4BtEsBF

What do kids gain by logging off? More time, deeper connections, and space to recharge. Next month, check out NoSo November, a youth-led movement encouraging teens and families to rethink their relationship with social media and build healthier digital habits. Children deserve online spaces that prioritize their well-being, not their screen time. Join the movement: nosonovember.org/

We’re celebrating a major milestone: 25 states have gone bell-to-bell - earning the highest grades on the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card! Half of U.S. states now have statutes or executive orders mandating phone-free schools for the entire day, helping students learn and form friendships without digital distractions. This is real momentum, and it’s making a difference – with legislative sessions starting back up in January, we look forward to seeing more progress next year! Learn more: bit.ly/4evoFIM

Pennsylvania is now the 25th state to pass a law or executive order requiring schools go phone-free for the entire school day or from “bell-to-bell”! 🎉 IFT’s Policy Director Emily Rapp: "We applaud the bipartisan leadership of Sen. Robinson, Rep. Steele, Sen. Hughes, and Sen. Santarsiero to free students from their personal devices for the entire school day. This landmark achievement highlights that lawmakers are willing to work across the aisle to prioritize our children.” Read more: bit.ly/4zd1oUs

What does Delaware’s new school cell phone policy mean for students? In an interview with @47abc, Emily Rapp, Policy Director at the Institute for Families and Technology, explains why Delaware received a “D” on the Phone-Free Schools State Report Card and why leaving key decisions up to individual districts can lead to inconsistent policies. Read the full story: bit.ly/4xQ4MUp

You watched "Your Attention Please." Now: what can you actually do? Today, in collaboration with Carson J. Bride Effect and the filmmakers behind the documentary Sara Robin and Jack LeMay, we're launching The Social Reset: a digital Action Hub bringing together organizations working across 6 fronts — parenting, responsible tech, tech-intentional schools, community, policy, and legal action — so families can turn frustration into action. Act now. At The Social Reset. Learn more: socialreset.org/ #TheSocialReset

“Your Attention Please” isn’t a doomsday story, but a hopeful call to action for what's possible when people push back against addictive tech. The film investigates how social media is designed to hijack our attention and introduces the people rebuilding it differently. Watch now to learn what they discovered. Available now on Apple TV, Amazon, and Doc+. Learn where to watch: yourattentionplz.com/watch #YourAttentionPlease

“Students are talking to each other in the cafeteria, in the hallways. You wouldn’t think that would be a good thing, but we’re enjoying that they’re just more plugged into what’s going on around them and less focused on the screen,” says NH social studies teacher Kimberly Bleier. @educationweek spoke with educators about how phone-free policies are changing classrooms and helping students reconnect with each other. Read what the teachers had to say: bit.ly/4rdTjLV

Utah educators are seeing a clear difference in classrooms without phones. In a @Deseret guest opinion, teacher Rachel Robin shares how phone-free classrooms have improved student focus, engagement and classroom discussion. Read more: bit.ly/4AaOGpY

IFT's Lina Nealon told the @courierpress why Indiana's school offices should be the go-to for urgent parent-student communications as the state's new cellphone ban is rolling out. Read more on why caregiver messaging via school-issued Chromebooks is not the answer: bit.ly/4yynAYo

The @CDispatch writes: “Mississippi lawmakers’ efforts to introduce a bill regarding cellphone usage in the classroom have missed the mark for the second consecutive legislative session, leaving Mississippi as one of two states to maintain an “F” grade on the national Phone-Free Schools State Report Card.” Read more: bit.ly/3TTRxmF

If you’re in DC this week: On September 17, the Georgetown Center for Digital Ethics is hosting the Fritz Digital Ethics Forum — Social Media, Children, and the Constitution — from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The panel includes @L_M_Garrett of Social Media Victims Law Center and looks at the constitutional questions raised by efforts to regulate the serious problems posed by children’s use of social media–and the paths forward. Register here: bit.ly/4dumrJ4

Research from @CommonSense is raising concerns about the safety of AI-powered search for children, including on school-issued devices. @Axios reporter @MadisonMills22 reports that Google’s AI search features failed all five of Common Sense Media’s severe-harm safety tests, highlighting the need for stronger protections for kids online. Read more: bit.ly/4regJ3R

More from John: “Thank you to our country’s Attorneys General for coming together regardless of party to level the playing field between parents and digital technology companies.  For too long parents have been at an impossible disadvantage as these addictive products wreak havoc on families and children.  It isn’t fair.  It isn’t right.  Today was a huge step in the right direction.”