smart phone

Utah’s new law bans students from using cellphones in the classroom unless a school sets its own phone policy.

The bill headed to the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox has pitted Facebook and Instagram operator Meta against app store giants Apple and Google over who should be responsible for verifying ages. Similar bills have been introduced in at least 12 other states in the latest fight over children’s digital safety.

Immigrants and speakers of languages other than English are less likely to be tech-savvy. Staff at the Weber County Library offer one-on-one lessons to get people up to speed.

While Copper Hills High School teacher Amanda Thomas appreciates the policy, she told the board, “I really don’t want that responsibility and liability.”

The Legislature is working on a statewide cell phone ban, but one lawmaker is worried what the blanket policy would mean for SafeUT, the state's successful crisis intervention and tip line.

Utah state lawmakers are looking to pass a universal ban on cellphones during school hours. However, individual school districts could set more permissive policies.

Currently, students can bring their phones on campus. But they can’t use them during class unless their teacher says so.

“We just need a space for six or seven hours a day where kids are not tethered to these devices,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters in mid-February.

All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have reached an agreement in principle with Google to settle a lawsuit filed in 2021 over the tech giant’s alleged monopolistic control of the distribution of apps for the software that runs most of the world’s cellphones.

Lawmakers are considering moving Utah closer to being a hands-free state when it comes to drivers using cell phones.It’s already against the law to text…

Would you consider using your smartphone to pay for coffee at Starbucks? How about your ride on public transit? Both consumers and stores have been…