“You Won’t Believe What Kids Are Watching in Class: The Hidden Dangers of School Tech”

Familyguide explores the challenges of technology in educational settings, highlighting how it often hinders academic performance and student focus rather than enhancing learning experiences.

Jessica Lewis, a parent of an eighth-grader, noticed her son’s grades declining due to YouTube distractions during class on his school-provided laptop. This led her to collaborate with other concerned parents in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, California, to advocate for blocking YouTube on student devices.

The parents compiled a presentation featuring clips from inappropriate videos accessible to elementary and middle school students through the district’s content filters. These included violent scenes from popular TV shows and movies, raising alarm among school officials who were unaware of the extent of screen time and content accessibility in classrooms.

Superintendent Eric Prater expressed shock at the content bypassing district filters and acknowledged the time-consuming nature of blocking certain websites, a task he was previously unfamiliar with.

Jessica Grose, a New York Times journalist, argues that technology’s presence in education lacks proper oversight and evidence of improved learning outcomes. She suggests that the disadvantages of classroom technology outweigh its benefits, based on extensive feedback from parents and educators.

The article highlights concerns about Google’s influence in schools through affordable Chromebooks, potentially creating lifelong customers by familiarizing students with their products from a young age.

Educators like Nicole Post from Missouri describe the struggle to maintain student attention in an era of instant gratification driven by platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Post expresses a desire to return to traditional teaching methods and materials.

Antero Garcia, an associate professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education, admits his disillusionment with educational technology despite his previous advocacy for digital tools in classrooms.

The piece also discusses the financial implications of technology in schools, noting that resources spent on devices and software could be allocated to other educational needs, such as physical books.

Some schools are taking action to address these issues. An Iowa district recently implemented a phone ban, resulting in improved student focus and engagement. California has also passed legislation requiring public schools to limit or ban phone use on campus by July 2026.

As educational institutions grapple with the impact of technology on learning, the debate continues over finding the right balance between digital tools and traditional teaching methods to best serve students’ educational needs.