Institute for Families and Technology (IFT)

North Dakota received the highest score in the nation—99%—for passing the most comprehensive phone-free schools law in the country. The state’s legislation provides an excellent model for others interested in establishing or strengthening their own laws. By reducing distractions, these policies offer students and teachers the best possible chance for academic and personal success. Curious where your state stands? Explore the grades in the Phone-Free Schools Report Card: phonefreeschoolsreport.org

BIG news from Indiana - the state passed one of the strongest phone-free school laws in the country, moving the state from a “C” to an “A” on the Phone-Free Schools Report Card. The new legislation frees students from accessing their phones for the entire school day, allowing them to focus, make friends, and learn. Congrats to Indiana - we hope other states follow your example! Learn more: phonefreeschoolsreport.org

“Students need to spend less time focused on their phones and more time focused on learning, on talking to their friends face to face, and on developing the critical skills they’ll need later in life.” - Pennsylvania Gov @JoshShapiroPA Learn about the state’s progress in freeing students from their phones in school. bit.ly/4qSgMAt

At least four Ohio children have used #AI to write their suicide notes. “That’s four too many,” Ohio state @RepCockley, D-Columbus, said during a press conference. Learn more about a proposed Ohio bill that would ban the creation of AI models designed to encourage self-harm or violence against others. bit.ly/3OuBBon

Real change does not start with a headline. It starts with people. Tonight, organizations, advocates, and filmmakers are releasing the trailer for the @SXSW documentary Your Attention Please at the same moment. Stand for Their Attention reflects the growing network of researchers, educators, parents, clinicians, and advocates working to protect human attention in a digital world. We are standing together for a healthier digital future. Watch the trailer. Explore resources from participating voices. Take action where you can. #StandForTheirAttention #YourAttentionPlease #ReclaimingHumanity #SXSW2026 #SXSW

Julianna Arnold, survivor parent and co-founder of the parents group Parents RISE, joined @NPR’s All Things Considered to share why legal pressure is overdue for social media companies. “We lost our kids, and there's nothing we can do about that. But what we can do is inform other parents and families about these harms and that these platforms are dangerous and that we need to put guardrails on these companies.” Julianna Arnold Listen to the podcast here. n.pr/4aDmLEv

If you want to know which Google executive testified that his children watch 5-6 hours of YouTube a day–and other details from the social media addiction trials–tune into The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial mini-series podcast by @Scrolling2Death, in partnership with @heatinitiative. This is essential coverage and commentary on these historic trials. Listen here: scrolling2death.com/heat

Tomorrow is the Global Day of Unplugging, and if you’re looking for ways to spend some intentional time offline, check out Unplug Collaborative for a list of simple, low‑tech activities — from scavenger hunts to volunteering and other easy, at‑home ideas. Best of all, these can be useful well beyond just tomorrow! bit.ly/3NbGJNA

Mark your calendar for tomorrow: Smartphone Free Childhood US is hosting a session on how to talk to your kids about screens. W/ authors Kristen A. Jenson and Britt Gondolfi, the session will explore how to protect young minds and why "looking up" matters more than ever. bit.ly/4aP1OoT

There’s a push for Phone-Free Schools in Connecticut! The Connecticut Education Association (CEA) and the Phone-Free CT coalition are calling for a statewide "bell-to-bell" phone-free mandate in schools. Supported by Governor Ned Lamont, this initiative aims to prioritize learning and mental health over digital distractions. Why the push? ✅ To restore classroom focus ✅ To protect student mental health ✅ To foster genuine social connection "When students are constantly checking their phones, we lose opportunities for learning and human connection," says CEA President Kate Dias. Read more about the case for phone-free schools: cea.org/protecting-stu…

As the social media addiction trials continue this week, @Tech_Oversight is doing incredible work calling out the misinformation coming from Meta on the witness stand.

Lina Nealon, Director of Strategic Partnerships at IFT, breaks down the current landscape of phone-free schools policies across the U.S. She explains why removing devices during the school day is not just a policy choice—it is instrumental to student wellbeing. 📉 Get the full breakdown and see the data in the Phone-Free Schools Report: phonefreeschoolsreport.org

“Time and time again, [Zuckerberg] has chosen profits over protecting his users.” Must watch: Deb Schmill shared her daughter’s story with @sramosABC and reflects on Zuckerberg’s disingenuous testimony at the LA trials last week. bit.ly/4aVr0dC

Only 16% of parents feel certain they can keep their kids safe online, according to an IFT survey. As AI tools and platforms evolve faster than ever, nearly half of all parents (49%) admit they are worried they simply can't protect their children from digital harms. It’s not just about screen time anymore—it’s about navigating a complex new world of AI usage. 🔗 Read the full findings: instituteforfamiliesandtechnology.org/blog-posts/new…

Research from @Tech_Oversight: A whopping 86% of Americans want Meta and Google held accountable for their role in a social media addiction crisis that has fueled anxiety, eating disorders and even suicide among kids. nypost.com/2026/02/17/bus…

When Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in LA yesterday, Fairplay's Josh Golin looked toward Capitol Hill — to see if Congress will stand with survivors and families. His op-ed is essential reading. bit.ly/4rBnmfZ

Both @JonHaidt and @Tech_Oversight are right; while Adam Mosseri claims Instagram is not addictive, the evidence doesn’t lie. It’s time to prioritize children’s health and safety and hold tech companies accountable.

The The Heat is On podcast by Scrolling2Death is providing essential coverage of the historic social media lawsuits. Listen to the latest episodes here: scrolling2death.com/heat

We can unleash innovation and protect Americans from harm online at the same time. Thank you, @VP Vance, for calling attention to the need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act. There is a reason this bill has 75 Senate co-sponsors and the support of nearly 90% of American voters!