Kids today are constantly exposed to news through social media, but their views on big news stories like phone bans in schools, the Madison school shooting and the TikTok ban are shaped by how these issues affect them personally. Adults need to listen to how young people feel about these events, mixing worry, confusion and sadness, as they try to make sense of a world where safety, privacy and technology collide.
Phones can be major distractions in the classroom, scientifically proven to decrease focus or engaging in school activities. Minnesota House of Representatives states 68.6% of polltakers said K-12 schools should ban the use of phones during the school day. Using phones in class can make it harder for students to remember what they are learning, join discussions and finish their work.
Recently, a student and teacher were killed, and six people were taken to nearby hospitals in Madison, Wis. The shooter was a 15-year-old girl named Natalie Rupnow. This sparked conversation in schools around world making students interested in what is going on in the news. Students feel unsafe in their school environment and express their concern on school shootings. Many students and teenagers feel as if school shootings are normal and that they happen all of the time.
Additionally, signed into law in April, the Supreme Court will decide whether or not TikTok will be banned in the United States. This is another huge topic that teenagers and students are debating on if it is a bad thing or if it will help people spend more time on other things. Students are concerned about people who make commission of their TikTok videos and what influencers will resort to after this app is gone.
Students are concerned about others’ mental health and how it “ruins a lot of relationships and affects mental health with young kids as well,” junior Marianna Shottler said.
Communication between students because of phone usage is creating tension and putting up a barrier when working on assignments as a group.
Shottler thinks that there is a weird controversy on how the Chinese government is trying to control or find users personal data including addresses, birthdate and credit card information.
Students and children under the age of 21 years old are getting a hold of dangerous weapons and causing extreme harm to others. This is causing anxiety for students and students are afraid of what could occur at school with these weapons.
“I personally think they should regulate who can purchase guns better,” junior Ben Shorehouse said.
In a world where big issues like technology rules, school safety and social media bans are a part of everyday life, students are finding their own ways on how to handle these triggering events. These students’ views show how deeply these subjects and changes affect them. Listening to students can help us find better ways to solve these problems and make things safer for them. When we include their thoughts on things, it shows them that their opinions matter and helps create a better future for everyone. Adults and school administrations need to listen to these voices as we shape policies that affect their futures, not just our personal opinions or biases.