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VT Chronicle: Ban cell phones in school? Legislature ponders, documentary says yes

May 12, 2025



The film Can't Look Away: The Case Against Social Media has been screening around the state of VT for the past month.
The film Can't Look Away: The Case Against Social Media has been screening around the state of VT for the past month.

by Guy Page


As Vermont lawmakers weigh a proposed ban on cell phone use in schools, supporters are presenting a Bloomberg-produced documentary called “Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media.”

The film, which purports to shed light on the psychological and real-world harms linked to youth use of social platforms, is being screened in conjunction with the proposed Phone- and Social Media-Free Schools bill (H.54), now under review in the Vermont State House.


Critics of the tech industry’s current model argue that addictive design features and weak privacy protections are at the heart of the crisis. Yet not everyone agrees on the solutions. Opponents of bills like H.54 caution against overreach, and some civil liberties groups raise concerns about infringing on teens’ access to digital spaces that can also provide support and community.


H.54 has a lengthy, bi-partisan list of sponsors. As introduce, the bill would “prohibit the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the school day in public schools, independent schools, career and technical education centers and prequalified private prekindergarten programs, as well as to prohibit schools from communicating with students through social media.”


H.54 was discussed in fourth and fifth drafts Friday morning and afternoon in House Education. Following this ‘mark-up’ of the bill, a committee vote could possibly send the bill to the House floor this week. House Education members include:


The screenings are part of a coordinated effort by the Vermont Coalition for Phone- and Social Media-Free Schools, supported by Smartphone Free Childhood US and local partners like Woodstock’s Pentangle Arts. Advocates say the film empowers parents, educators, and policymakers with the information and emotional urgency needed to push for safer online environments for children.


“This film serves as the social media warning label that the former U.S. Surgeon General said we need,” said Rep. Angela Arsenault (D-Williston), a supporter of H.54. “We have an obligation to act.”


The documentary highlights disturbing trends, including links between social media use and increased risk of fentanyl exposure, exploitation, and youth suicide. It features families affected by these tragedies, some of whom are affiliated with the Social Media Victims Law Center. Publicity materials show grieving parents holding photos of their children, emphasizing the human cost behind data-driven platforms.


“I now see that any of our children—not only those who use the apps non-stop—could get trapped in a dangerous situation and in over their heads,” said Liza Earle-Centers, a parent and teacher active in the coalition. “It really isn’t an exaggeration to say that it can go south fast.”


Vermont joins over 20 countries hosting the film as part of a global movement to scrutinize social media’s impact on youth mental health and safety. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and other international leaders have echoed the call for regulatory reform.


Following each screening, local experts and community leaders host discussions and offer action steps. Upcoming events include stops in Burlington, Manchester, St. Albans, Woodstock, and Barre. A full list of dates and venues is available at PhoneFreeSchoolsVT.


“As an arts organization, this is our job—to tell the stories that need to be heard, to create a forum to discuss, and to facilitate healing whenever possible,” said Deborah Greene, Executive Director of Pentangle Arts. “I am proud to be part of a community that prioritizes pushing this agenda forward to protect our kids.”


Upcoming screenings include:

Mon. May 12 ~ 6:30pm ~ Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

Tues. May 13 ~ 5pm ~ Manchester Library

Wed. May 14 ~ 6pm ~ St. Albans Free Library

Fri. May 16 ~ 6:30pm~ Pentangle Arts in Woodstock

Mon. May 19 ~ 5:30pm ~ Spaulding High School Auditorium in Barre

 
 
 

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