I’m a Former Silicon Valley Engineer: Why I Refuse to Give My Kids Smartphones Until They’re 16

6. Academic Distraction

The presence of smartphones in classrooms often leads to lower grades and shorter attention spans. Notifications, games, and social media constantly compete for students’ focus, undermining learning.
According to Edutopia, educators are rethinking device policies as the academic downsides of in-class smartphone use become impossible to ignore. Keeping devices out of reach helps kids concentrate and engage more deeply with their studies.