Yondr survey reveals 89% of U.S. parents want schools to lead on phone-free policies as concerns grow over screen time

Research

12 Jun

A national survey by phone-free solutions provider Yondr finds most parents support school-led phone restrictions, linking student and family screen use to declining focus, wellbeing, and academic engagement.

A national survey conducted by Yondr, a company providing phone-free technology solutions to schools, shows that 89 percent of U.S. parents want schools to implement structured plans for managing student phone use.

The data reflects responses from 1,000 parents of children aged 8 to 17, with most expressing concern about the impact of screen time on both their children’s education and personal wellbeing.

Yondr, based in Los Angeles, developed a pouch system that restricts phone access during the school day while allowing students to keep their devices. The company provides its equipment and training to schools across 35 countries, focusing on reducing distractions and improving classroom focus.

High concern among parents about screen-related effects

According to the survey, 95 percent of parents believe their children would benefit from reduced screen exposure. About 84 percent said phones are causing serious issues in schools, with the most common concerns being distraction (62.2 percent), anxiety (31.9 percent), and loneliness (25.5 percent). A majority (56 percent) support either a complete ban on phones or bell-to-bell phone-free policies within schools.

The findings suggest the phone use issue extends well beyond the classroom. Eighty-eight percent of parents say their children use phones during family vacations, and more than half report phones being used during milestone events like graduations.

Graham Dugoni, founder and CEO of Yondr, says: “The data confirms what we're hearing from families across the country: parents are overwhelmed, kids are distracted, and everyone is craving a reset. Phone-free spaces can no longer be considered an optional add-on, but are now a baseline requirement expected by parents in their child's school. It's clear there's a growing demand for environments that give children an extended break from their phones—whether at school, at home, or in the community.”

Self-reflection also rising among adult users

The survey highlights that parental concerns are not limited to children. Seventy-five percent of parents say they use their phones “too much,” with 43 percent reporting mental health impacts, and 26 percent citing negative effects on job performance. In many cases, parents said observing their children's screen habits prompted them to reevaluate their own.

Amid growing concerns about AI and digital integration in education, 66 percent of respondents reported worry over their children’s use of not only smartphones, but also laptops, tablets, and AI-based tools in schools.

Dugoni adds: “Phone-free spaces can no longer be considered an optional add-on, but are now a baseline requirement expected by parents in their child's school.”