Governor Kathy Hochul today joined Common Sense Media to announce a letter to State lawmakers calling for the Governor’s “bell-to-bell” distraction-free schools proposal on behalf of Common Sense Media’s network of 80,000 parents, kids and educators across New York. The full letter can be found here. In the letter, Common Sense Media specifically called for passage of the Governor’s full proposal, which will put commonsense “bell-to-bell” restrictions on smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices throughout the entire school day. The announcement came after a roundtable hosted by the Governor with a group of New York moms, kids and educators on Common Sense Media’s Day of Action. Following the roundtable, the organization’s representatives are meeting with State lawmakers to deliver their new letter in support of distraction-free schools and support the Governor’s proposals to outlaw AI-generated sexual abuse material and regulate “AI companion” services that have tragically led to self-harm among youth.
“Constant digital distractions throughout the school day are hurting our kids — that’s why New Yorkers know that students should be learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Governor Hochul said. “Experts and advocates agree that a bell-to-bell plan for distraction-free schools will ensure the best results, and I’ll never stop fighting to protect our kids.”
Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media James P. Steyer said, “The evidence is clear and the consensus is palpable: smartphones in classrooms are disrupting learning environments in New York and across the country. Governor Hochul's ‘bell-to-bell’ distraction-free schools proposal aims to support our students' mental health, academic success, and overall well-being — not by eliminating technology, but by creating spaces where students can fully engage with learning while developing healthy digital habits. The overwhelming support from New York parents, educators, and teens demonstrates that this policy meets a critical need in our communities, and we're committed to working with the governor, the legislature, and New York schools to help ensure all students have the focus they need to thrive in the classroom."
Governor Hochul’s legislative proposal for distraction-free schools in New York has already won the support of elected officials, labor leaders, school administrators, parents and community advocates, law enforcement officials and social justice advocates.
The Governor’s proposal includes:
- No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.
- Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
- Proposes $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.
- Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day if needed.
- Allows students to have simple cell phones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.
- Provides sensible exemptions to restrictions, including for a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), for students who need an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, or for other academic purposes such as translation.
- Requires schools to track and report on the enforcement of the ban and any disparities in enforcement.
This new requirement would be in place starting in the 2025-26 academic year, and would apply to all schools in public school districts, as well as charter schools and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
New York Advisory Council of Common Sense Media Allison Devore said, "My husband and I have struggled to set screen limits for our own sons, even though we both have backgrounds in tech. Each day we wait to intervene means another child will pay the price of their mental health because of our unwillingness to act."
Mothers Against Media Addiction Ambassador and Child Welfare Attorney Muna Heaven said, "Thank you Governor Hochul and Common Sense Media for inviting me to join this important event today. The time has come to re-establish some balance in our classrooms. This is why I am in favor of Gov. Hochul's 'bell-to-bell' distraction free schools proposal."
Massapequa High School Junior Lilly Dooher said, "I’d love to experience an entire school day that’s free of phones and free of social media. I think that if we couldn’t look at our phones during the school day, my friends and I would feel much more relaxed and less anxious and less distracted."
As part of their Day of Action, Common Sense Media is also speaking out in Albany in support of the Governor’s proposals to make artificial intelligence (AI) services safer for kids.
Outlawing AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Governor Hochul’s proposal will update the penal law to treat AI-generated child sexual abuse material as child pornography. This change would apply to real images manipulated to become explicit using AI. New York’s penal law does not currently adequately address the use of AI to alter content to make child sexual abuse material. Existing laws address traditional child pornography, but the emergence of easily accessible “undressing” apps and the misuse of generative AI highlight the need to strengthen and modernize these laws.
Making AI Companion Technology Safer
The AI Companion industry is a rapidly developing and largely unregulated market where chatbots are designed to simulate human connection, remember personal details, and adapt their personality to user preferences to establish long-term relationships. Governor Hochul’s proposal will require AI companionship companies to implement safety features to protect against self-harm and to remind users they are interacting with machines rather than humans. These steps aim to reduce risks and ensure safer interactions with AI companions.
Expand Media Literacy Efforts For Educators and Students
As part of her ongoing efforts to promote digital wellbeing, Governor Hochul in January released a new Media Literacy Toolkit for educators across New York to help introduce their students to the concepts of media literacy. The Governor will also direct the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) to continue this effort by developing age-specific examples, resources for parents and the public, and a public education campaign. These initiatives aim to equip the next generation with critical media literacy skills to navigate the complex information landscape.