A Teen Perspective on Teen School Phone Policies

Hey folks, Ned here. If you're anything like me, you're always curious about how the younger generation views the world we're handing them—including the phones we put in their pockets and the social platforms we love to worry about. In this episode, I sit down with two remarkable high school students, Ellie and Flair, to talk not just about screen time and school phone policies, but how they really experience technology, anxiety, education, and what it means to grow up today.

Ellie and Flair are bright, honest, and totally engaging. They bring a much-needed perspective on teen tech use, mental health, screen addiction, and the nuanced balance between connection and distraction. This isn’t a conversation about teens—it’s a conversation with them. You’ll walk away with new insight into what our kids are thinking and feeling, and hopefully, how we can better support them.

Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome and an exciting announcement about the new workbook
[1:30] Ellie reflects on generational changes in parenting and tech use
[3:35] Meet our brilliant guests: Flair and Ellie
[5:16] What BCC High School is like—diversity, size, and school culture
[6:17] Launching into today’s topic: phones, social media, and school policies
[8:23] What “PMDs” are and how new rules are enforced (or not)
[10:49] Why students in advanced classes often self-regulate better
[12:03] Calling out the adult double standard in screen use
[14:05] Social media as both connection and distraction
[17:01] Doomscrolling vs. genuine engagement—mental health reflections
[18:17] The healing power of nature and how it competes with dopamine
[21:05] How overprotection in the real world may fuel under-preparation
[24:51] Discussing “The Anxious Generation” and parental fears
[27:52] Does banning phones really solve anything?
[29:11] Ellie gets real about anxiety, overdiagnosis, and support systems
[33:11] Why blanket policies don’t reflect lived experience
[36:16] Can schools craft phone policies with students, not just for them?
[40:58] On class, academic support, and how expectations shape outcomes
[45:56] Highlighting the MoCAT exhibit and teen voice in action
[48:34] Final reflections: What teens really need from adults

Links & Resources:

The Museum of the Contemporary American Teenager (MoCAT): July 2–7 on the National Mall https://festival.si.edu/2025/youth-future-culture/mocat 

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If you have a high school aged student and would like to talk about putting a tutoring or college plan together, reach out to Ned's company, PrepMatters at www.prepmatters.com