Newburgh Free Academy Implements Cell Phone Lockdown

Newburgh, New York — At Newburgh Free Academy in New York, cell phones are locked away for the entire school day, including lunch.

Students like Tyson Hill and Monique May say it is a relief after constantly being on their phones during the COVID-19 lockdown, when screen time among adolescents more than doubled, according to a study last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.

"I blame my darkest moments because of my phone," Tyson told CBS News.

May said phone and social media use during this time was entirely to blame for her mental health struggles.

"All of it, for me personally," May said.

Impact on Mental Health

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57% of high school girls in the U.S. felt persistently sad or hopeless during the pandemic, double that of boys.

May disclosed she sometimes felt bullied or isolated after looking at social media.

"Throughout my middle school experience, like there was a lot of people talking about you, whether it be on Snapchat, posting a story that made fun of the way you looked," May said. "It made me feel depressed."

Effects of Social Media on Youth Mental Health

In May, concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people were raised by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. He issued an advisory highlighting the potential dangers.

"The youth mental health crisis is the defining public health issue of our time," Murthy warned during an interview with CBS News. He expressed his worry that if urgent action is not taken, an entire generation of children could be lost to depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Murthy suggested that restrictions on the use of smartphones during school hours should be considered. He believes that these devices, especially social media platforms, can be highly addictive and have a negative impact on students' well-being.

One school that has already implemented restrictions on phone usage is Newburgh Free Academy. Ebony Clark, the assistant principal, has observed a decrease in online bullying since the ban.

"All I'm doing is giving them the opportunity to engage in school and leave the drama outside these doors," Clark explained.

Students like May have noticed improvements in their mental health due to the phone restrictions.

"I'm more confident in who I am," May shared. "And I think that just comes from not being able to worry about what other people are saying about me. Just being me."