Massachusetts children under 14 may be restricted from social media by fall 2026 and banned from using cell phones during the school day, according to a bill passed this month by the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The bill would require social media companies to implement age verification systems prohibiting users 13 or younger and to obtain parental consent for users ages 14 and 15 to create accounts. Additionally, school districts would be required to implement policies prohibiting cell phone use during the school day.
The debate over cell phone use in schools is not new to Worcester. In 2024, the Worcester School Committee approved a revised policy allowing limited cell phone use for educational communication, including email or chat applications, during lunch or other non-instructional time.
Some teachers, however, say students have become more easily distracted since the updated policy took effect, according to Melissa Verdier, president of the Educational Association of Worcester.
“It is a really hard battle,” Verdier said. “We know that kids are addicted to their phones.” Some teachers have observed that a five-minute trip to the bathroom can stretch to 10 minutes or more as students remain glued to their screens.
Educators express concerns over school cell phone use
Some teachers support the proposed ban, arguing that students will not break their dependence on phones without stricter limits.
“Most students aren’t developmentally capable of recognizing that they have an addiction, or perhaps can’t understand because they don’t know a life without it,” said Crystal Buckley, a high school visual arts teacher, in a written statement. “It’s the same as sending someone to a drug rehabilitation program with a pocket full of drugs — no one would ever support that.”
Still, while the proposal aims to improve students’ mental health and academic outcomes, Verdier said the burden of enforcement would fall largely on teachers.
Educators may require students to turn in their phones and store them in pocket holders or lockers, but monitoring compliance adds extra work. In some cases, students have attempted to turn in fake phones to bypass restrictions.
“Most students aren’t developmentally capable of recognizing that they have an addiction, or perhaps can’t understand because they don’t know a life without it,” said Crystal Buckley, a high school visual arts teacher.
Teachers would need a clear and detailed enforcement plan, including consequences for violations, Verdier said. Under Worcester’s current policy, using a phone during instructional time can result in disciplinary action, including a warning, confiscation, or a parent or guardian meeting. However, confiscating phones can also expose teachers to liability if devices are lost or damaged, creating hesitation around enforcement.
New social media restrictions raise questions
The bill also seeks to address concerns about addictive algorithms and harmful content by restricting access to social media for children 13 and younger.
Gov. Maura Healey has proposed additional measures that would require platforms to adjust default settings for users under 18, including a two-hour daily limit and disabling features such as infinite scrolling.
Verdier said the effectiveness of such restrictions remains uncertain, particularly given how easily tech-savvy children may find workarounds. As a parent, she has seen her son attempt to bypass age verification in a video game using a photo of an older person.
The proposal has also drawn criticism over data privacy concerns. Digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future described the bill as one that “expands censorship and surveillance,” warning that social media companies may not adequately protect sensitive user data, including birth dates.
Cayla Dodd, a Worcester school bus driver, said she regularly overhears children discussing age-inappropriate content online.
“The concern is very real,” Dodd said, “but I’m not convinced this particular approach is the most effective way to address it.”
Dodd suggested alternatives such as limited-function cell phones designed for children and broader public awareness campaigns to help parents better understand social media risks and monitor their children’s online activity.
