On: Yes, social media is a cause of the epidemic of teenage mental illness

[bigstrat2003]

I think we should go even further: ban all phones during school hours. There is absolutely no reason that kids need to have a phone in school. If the parent needs to reach them, then call the school office who can get your kid on the line. There is no emergency so dire that a few minutes' delay in talking to your child will make a meaningful difference.

[epolanski → bigstrat2003]

> There is absolutely no reason that kids need to have a phone in school.

I commuted one hour from and to middle school and high school, I definitely needed a phone to communicate with my mother when stuff happened (and occasionally happened), such as missing the bus or being late for lunch.

[graemep → epolanski]

Lots of kids did that before there were mobile phones.

[rightbyte → graemep]

So, pay phone booths for school kids?

[jksflkjl3jk3 → rightbyte]

When I was in school, you'd just go the main office and ask the secretary. They had a phone that students could use (for free) when they missed the bus or had to reach their parents for something important.

[naasking → bigstrat2003]

> There is no emergency so dire that a few minutes' delay in talking to your child will make a meaningful difference.

You're neglecting emergencies that are happening in the school itself. School shooters, for instance.

I frankly don't see the problem with kids having the phone with them as long as they're not actually using it outside of an actual emergency.