By next fall, the majority of US schools will likely be "phone-free," predicts psychologist Jonathan Haidt.

According to social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt, U.S. schools will likely prohibit smartphones in classrooms by the upcoming fall season.

Recently, Haidt, the author of "The Anxious Generation," spoke to The Free Press (TFP) about the growing concern among parents and educators regarding the negative impact of smartphones and social media on children. He stated that this issue is being taken seriously, and there is a push for bans on these devices in schools.

According to Haidt, schools in the United States will likely be phone-free by next September, with the majority of schools implementing this policy.

The report on Haidt's influence highlighted the growing concern among educators that smartphones have been a distraction in the classroom, as students' attention has been absorbed by the devices. This dynamic has been exacerbated by the social isolation and virtual learning that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suzanna Kruger, a teacher in the Seaside School District, described her students as appearing to be uninterested and unengaged during class, with their phones out, following a year of distance learning.

The outlet stated that she added, "Most kids in her class were either asleep with their heads on their desks, wearing headphones, or doing a ‘dead-eyed scroll’ through TikTok. When she asked them to turn over their device, most students just ‘refused.’"

Recently, schools such as Seaside have banned the use of devices due to concerns raised by educators like Kruger.

Thousands of schools across the country, including those in Virginia, South Carolina, and California, have joined the trend of banning smartphones, as research indicates a correlation between their use and declining test scores and increasing teen mental health issues.

The report's author, Olivia Reingold, stated that the movement against smartphone harm is gaining momentum due to the efforts of Jonathan Haidt.

Notable individuals from both the right and left have praised the author's book, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, who banned smartphones in K-12 public schools in 2023, former President Barack Obama, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Jean Twenge, a psychologist, stated to The Free Press that there has been significant advancement in the past year, following years of slow progress. This progress can be attributed to Jon's book, which further propelled the conversation into the spotlight. The book has inspired many principals and superintendents to implement stricter rules.

The book proposes a method for achieving Haidt's "Great Rewiring of Childhood" through four "foundational rules," including no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, no phones at school, and more unsupervised play and independence for kids.

Haidt expressed his astonishment to TFP about the rapid spread of awareness regarding this issue, stating that it is the only other instance of social change he has witnessed that has progressed so swiftly, comparable to the fall of the Iron Curtain.

The psychologist pointed out that although many parents initially opposed giving their children smartphones, they eventually succumbed to social pressure, as their children would often boast about being the only ones without one.

Now, he observed that parents and educators are beginning to resist the idea of banning them, as it is becoming clear that all schools support this measure.