Navigating the Digital Divide: Key Insights from the NYSUT Disconnected Conference

Yondr CEO Graham Dugoni, Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers, and Governor Kathy Hochul (NY) at the NYSUT Disconnected Conference.

In September, nearly 500 educators, students, parents, and policymakers gathered for the NYSUT Disconnected Conference to tackle the impact of cellphones and social media on education and student mental health in the state of New York. Participants engaged with advocates championing policy change and delved into the far-reaching effects of personal technology on school safety, child development, and mental health outcomes.

The full day agenda was filled with impactful discussions, including those from panelists as well as attendees. These five key moments from the conference represent those topics educators everywhere are thinking about:

1. Governor Kathy Hochul gave an inspiring opening speech and encouraged attendees to support the phone-free education movement, saying, “We will look back at this time and say we finally saved the next generation of kids and it all started in a room like this right here in Albany.”
   - Disconnected 2024 - Governor Hochul’s Remarks
   

2. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple alleviated concerns about safety in a phone-free school, saying, “We’re proponents of locking up [cell phones]. I think at the end of the day, it’s going to make our schools safer.”
   - Disconnected 2024 - Impact of Cell Phones on School Safety
   

3. Highlighting the benefits of a distraction-free environment. Panelists, including representatives from Yondr school partners in Schoharie and Bethlehem districts, shared their experiences with recent phone-free initiatives. “Within the first two months, there was such a difference,” said Bethlehem student Lauren Dudgeon. 
   - Disconnected 2024 - Panel Discussion: Cell Phones in Schools
   

4. A panel of experts discussed digital literacy and the appropriate use of technology in schools. Yondr CEO Graham Dugoni said, “It’s no wonder that young people are anxious. It’s not just about what you see on social media. It’s the nature of the tool and what it opens up.”
   - Disconnected 2024 - Panel Discussion: Teaching Digital Literacy and Appropriate Use of Technology
   

5. Policy makers, superintendents, and pediatric health experts discussed efforts aimed at holding social media companies accountable for the harm they cause to young people. Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers, said, “There are a lot of things that the internet has done that have been helpful, but overwhelmingly… the disruption to relationships, coping, and problem-solving—along with how we prepare kids to navigate their world—is not just disruptive, but a hugely problematic source of undermining that and you see it across the country now.”
   - Disconnected 2024 - Panel Discussion: Student Mental Health and Social Media

Thank you to everyone who contributed to such a meaningful conversation! Watch the full conference recording here. Interested in learning more about going phone-free in your district or school?