State Rep. Greg Markkanen on Tuesday addressed ongoing policy proposals to restrict cell phone use in schools. The efforts, pushed by members of the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, aim to reverse declining student performance in schools and tackle mental health issues brought on, in part, by rampant cell phone use. Michigan ranks 41st out of 50 states in Education by the U.S. News and World Report, and seven in 10 Michigan fourth graders can’t read proficiently.

“Getting phones out of the classrooms is an important first step, but it doesn’t address the damaging effects social media is having on our kids,” said Markkanen, a former high school teacher. “If a student is getting bullied online, their performance in school will suffer regardless of whether they have their phone in class or not. We need to explore the root causes of these problems, including students’ current unlimited access to social media platforms. Getting kids’ faces out of their phones and boosting their self-esteem is a must if we’re ever going to improve their performance in school and set them up for success.”

Gov. Whitmer recently gave her State of State address, where she called on the Legislature to restrict student phone use in schools. However, the governor failed to address other root causes of the student mental health crisis in schools.

“While I appreciate Gov. Whitmer encouraging the Legislature to address rampant misuse of cell phones in our schools, there are more common-sense steps we can take to tackle the student mental health crisis,” said Markkanen, R-Hancock. “As a former educator, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effects bullying had on kids in my classroom. It broke my heart every time. Now that social media is in the picture, our kids are facing online demons we can’t even imagine.”

According to data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, up to 95% of children aged 13 to 17 report using social media, with one-third of saying they use social media ‘almost constantly.’ When asked, 46% of kids aged 13 to 17 said social media makes them feel worse.

Research compiled by the Centers for Disease Control found that, among U.S. high school students in 2023, 40% reported ongoing feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, and 20% had seriously considered suicide in that same time frame.

“If someone is addicted to booze or drugs, we don’t try and help by only limiting their use during work hours. We have to start treating cell phone and social media use in a similar light,” said Markkanen, who serves as chair of the Higher Education appropriations subcommittee. “Far too many children have already become addicts at a tragically young age. They’re consumed by their screens, constantly exposing themselves to harmful ideas and online trolls deceptively masked by bright colors and sounds. Other states have taken steps to protect their children; it’s time for Michigan to do the same.”

Several states have moved to protect kids from social media, including Florida, which bans social media accounts for children under 14, and Utah, which has similar age limitations but also imposes a social media curfew for minors, limiting use from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

###