With smartphone bans becoming more common in U.S. schools, students are turning to smartwatches as a discreet alternative, sparking widespread debate on technology’s role in education and its impact on student focus and classroom dynamics. Many educators worry that smartwatches pose similar distractions as smartphones, allowing students to text, access social media, and even browse the internet under the guise of checking the time. Some schools have reported that while students appear less outwardly distracted without smartphones, smartwatches are enabling subtler disruptions that are difficult to monitor.
Beyond distractions, this trend introduces questions around academic integrity. Smartwatches give students access to information in real-time, which some use for cheating during exams. To address this, certain schools have extended phone bans to include smartwatches, while others are exploring policies that allow only basic wristwatches during tests.
The rise in smartwatch use also reflects a larger digital challenge for schools as they balance technology’s benefits with the need for focused learning environments. As wearable tech evolves, so does the complexity of setting policies that foster a productive classroom while managing the distractions that these devices can introduce.