By Office of Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry
BATON ROUGE, La. (Office of Gov. Jeff Landry) – The Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund has launched a statewide #PutThePhoneDown campaign to address the growing problem of excessive cellphone use and its adverse effects on Louisiana’s children.
Governor Jeff Landry has proclaimed August as #PutThePhoneDown Month, encouraging families, educators, and communities to reduce screen distractions and focus on meaningful, face-to-face connections.
Studies show that giving children screens as a distraction harms their language skills, emotional security, and social development. Educators across the state report rising classroom distractions, lower student engagement, and challenges in students’ focus and relationships.
Research links excessive cellphone use among children and teens to increased anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, disrupted sleep, less physical activity, and poorer academic performance.
“#PutThePhoneDown Month is about reclaiming our attention and our relationships,” said Executive Director of the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund, Ursula Anderson. “Too many people are trading face-to-face connections and meaningful conversations for endless scrolling. It’s time to reset the balance.”
The campaign aims to promote a real presence in homes and schools, strengthen mental health and family bonds, and encourage responsible use of technology.
