“A daily 1-hour increment in digital screen time was associated with 21% higher odds of myopia (nearsightedness),” says a meta-analysis in the JAMA journal.

A House committee gave House Memorial 2 a due-pass recommendation after educators and school leaders urged a study into how classroom screen time and online assessments affect elementary students’ learning, equity and well-being.

Speakers from the district warned that high screen time is associated with increased depression risk and worse academic outcomes, citing studies and district observations; they described classroom changes and anecdotal evidence of improved social interaction after phone-free policies.