Los Angeles moves to ban smartphone use in school [Video]

Education bosses in Los Angeles voted Tuesday to work towards a complete ban on the use of smartphones in the city’s schools.

The move came as the governor of California, the most populous state in the US, voiced support for restrictions on the devices and as concerns grow about their impact on the mental health of young people.

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, which manages the second biggest school district in the country, ordered staff to devise a plan to prohibit cell phones and social media throughout the school day.

“Schools that have…already implemented a phone-free school day report incredible results — kids are happier, they’re talking to one another, their academics are up,” said board member Nick Melvoin, who proposed the ban.

“And so I really think this is an idea whose time has come.”

The resolution cited research indicating excessive cell phone use was …