This is an article from the May 2025 Civitas Examiner (Volume 2, No. 2) and was written by one of our students, Liam T. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue. To read more Civitas Examiner stories or to submit your own, click here.
In the past eight years, countless schools across 41 states have implemented Yondr pouches into the school system.
A Yondr pouch is “a signal-blocking, lockable box” that is magnetically sealed and unlocked with a stationary unlocking base outside the phone-free zone.
The original use of Yondr was designed for concerts to maintain focus on performers and not on cell phones. Currently, Yondr is mainly being used to restrict the use of cellphones in school systems, sparking controversy.
Those who support Yondr argue that cell phones are distracting and limit social interaction in a school context. They argue that schools should be a place of learning where everyone is present mentally and not glued to a phone.
Statistics also show that the absence of cellphones can reduce cyberbullying. “Students who use cell phones had a reportedly higher rate of daily/weekly cyberbullying than did schools that allowed cell phone use,” according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
With these statistics, the answer seems obvious, but it is not.
Other problems have arisen, with reports having shown Yondr pouches breaking or being hacked. This raises the question: Do they even work?
Those against yonder pouches claim it’s a freedom restriction and is a risk if a student needs to contact their parents or call 911 in a dangerous situation. “Rebecca Bratspies, parent to a child in a Yondr school, posted on X that her neurodivergent kid relies on their phone to “navigate the day.”
“This program makes it worse,” Bratspies claimed.
Reports have also claimed that schools spending money on installing Yondr pouches don’t have the money to supply other necessities during the school year.
While there are pros and cons to these pouches, it is important to understand both sides of the argument. While restricting the use of cellphones could produce educational and social benefits, it has the potential to create dangerous situations. For example, imagine a school shooting where the students couldn’t call 911 on their phones. The arguments for each side are strong, so it’s best to think before deciding to support Yondr.
