Lantern · A free tool for school counselors
LanternThe Global Atlas of Cyberbullying Law
Every country, state and school system draws the line on bullying, cyberbullying and student phones a little differently. Lantern lights up those lines in plain English, for all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., Canada, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and all 27 countries of the European Union, so you know what applies before a student walks into your office.
- 51states & D.C.
- Everypublic school district
- 41,000+ZIP codes
- 4trusted sources
- Find your placeType a ZIP code or choose a state on the map.
- Read the summarySee what the law requires and what it means for counselors.
- Go deeper when you need toOpen the legal details, citations, and official resources.
All states at a glance
Select a state name for its full profile, including what the law means for counselors and the legal details.
| State | Overall | Covers cyberbullying | Off-campus | Staff training | Phone rules | Online safety laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Strong (12/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Alaska | Limited (7/14) | No | No | No | Districts must set a phone policy | 0 |
| Arizona | Moderate (8/14) | Yes | No | No | Limits phones in class | 0 |
| Arkansas | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 4 |
| California | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limits phones in class | 8 |
| Colorado | Moderate (9/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Districts must set a phone policy | 5 |
| Connecticut | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | State encourages limits | 5 |
| Delaware | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | State encourages limits | 1 |
| District of Columbia | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | No | Yes | No statewide rule | 0 |
| Florida | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 4 |
| Georgia | Strong (11/14) | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide phone restriction | 3 |
| Hawaii | Moderate (9/14) | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Idaho | Strong (11/14) | Yes | No | Yes | State encourages limits | 3 |
| Illinois | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | No | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| Indiana | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Iowa | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Kansas | Limited (6/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| Kentucky | Moderate (9/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Louisiana | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 7 |
| Maine | Strong (12/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Maryland | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No statewide rule | 2 |
| Massachusetts | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No statewide rule | 0 |
| Michigan | Strong (12/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Minnesota | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Districts must set a phone policy | 3 |
| Mississippi | Moderate (9/14) | Yes | No | No | No statewide rule | 2 |
| Missouri | Strong (11/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| Montana | Moderate (9/14) | Yes | Yes | No | State encourages limits | 3 |
| Nebraska | Limited (5/14) | Yes | No | No | Statewide phone restriction | 6 |
| Nevada | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| New Hampshire | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| New Jersey | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| New Mexico | Comprehensive (14/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Districts must set a phone policy | 0 |
| New York | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 6 |
| North Carolina | Strong (11/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| North Dakota | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Ohio | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| Oklahoma | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 1 |
| Oregon | Strong (11/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | Moderate (10/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Rhode Island | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| South Carolina | Strong (11/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| South Dakota | Limited (7/14) | Yes | Yes | No | No statewide rule | 1 |
| Tennessee | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 3 |
| Texas | Strong (12/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 6 |
| Utah | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 4 |
| Vermont | Strong (12/14) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 2 |
| Virginia | Moderate (10/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 4 |
| Washington | Comprehensive (13/14) | Yes | No | Yes | State encourages limits | 0 |
| West Virginia | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Wisconsin | Moderate (8/14) | No | No | No | Statewide phone restriction | 0 |
| Wyoming | Strong (12/14) | Yes | No | Yes | No statewide rule | 1 |
The national picture
How many of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and Washington, D.C.) include each element in state law or statewide policy.
Recent statewide action on school phones
- Pennsylvania: Statewide ban (SB 1014)
- Illinois: Statewide ban (SB 2427)
- Georgia: Statewide ban (HB 1009)
- Maine: Statewide ban (LD 2212)
- Virginia: Statewide ban (SB 108)
- Kansas: Statewide ban (HB 2299)
- Utah: Statewide ban (SB 69)
- Delaware: Encourages districts to limit cellphones in classrooms (Senate Bill 106)
- Michigan: Statewide ban (HB 4141)
- Hawaii: Statewide ban (Policy)
Around the world
Choose a region
The same seven questions, answered in plain English for every place we cover. Legal detail is always one click away.
Start with a question
- Live United States 50 states + DC Every state law, plus every school district by ZIP code.
- Live Canada 13 provinces & territories Strong provincial anti-bullying laws, and a federal under-16 social media bill in Parliament.
- Live Australia 8 states & territories Under-16 social media limit, eSafety takedowns and a new national framework.
- Live UK & Ireland 5 nations England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland side by side.
- Live Mexico 32 states A new national phone rule, a federal bullying protocol and state laws side by side.
- Live European Union 27 countries EU-wide platform rules and all 27 member states side by side.
What’s changed
Latest changes
The newest rules in the atlas, most recent first.
Mexico restricts phones for the whole school day nationwide
Pennsylvania: statewide action on school phones (SB 1014)
The EU KIDS Act is proposed: no social media under 13
European Union (EU-wide) profile · Source (opens in a new tab)
Poland bans phones in kindergartens and primary schools
France extends its phone ban to lycées from 2026/27
Illinois: statewide action on school phones (SB 2427)
Coming up
Greece's under-15 social media ban is due to take effect
Deadline for EU countries to make cyber-harassment a crime
Since 2012
How the law has changed
Key laws and rules across every region. Choose a year, a region or a topic to narrow the list.
Deadline for EU countries to make cyber-harassment a crime
Greece's under-15 social media ban is due to take effect
Mexico restricts phones for the whole school day nationwide
Pennsylvania: statewide action on school phones (SB 1014)
The EU KIDS Act is proposed: no social media under 13
European Union (EU-wide) profile · Source (opens in a new tab)
Poland bans phones in kindergartens and primary schools
France extends its phone ban to lycées from 2026/27
Illinois: statewide action on school phones (SB 2427)
England makes its school phone guidance statutory
Canada introduces the Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34)
Latvia bans phones in grades 1 to 9 under the Education Law
Georgia: statewide action on school phones (HB 1009)
Maine: statewide action on school phones (LD 2212)
Virginia: statewide action on school phones (SB 108)
Wales issues revised statutory anti-bullying guidance
Kansas: statewide action on school phones (HB 2299)
Utah: statewide action on school phones (SB 69)
Delaware: statewide action on school phones (Senate Bill 106)
Michigan: statewide action on school phones (HB 4141)
The European Commission adopts an Action plan against cyberbullying
European Union (EU-wide) profile · Source (opens in a new tab)
Hawaii: statewide action on school phones (Policy)
Australia agrees a National Framework for Addressing Bullying in Schools
New Jersey: statewide action on school phones (S3695)
Australia's under-16 social media minimum age takes effect
Wisconsin: statewide action on school phones (AB 2)
Bí Cineálta procedures come into effect in every Irish school
Quebec extends its phone ban to the whole school day, including breaks
Finland bans phones during lessons by law
Ofcom's Protection of Children Codes take effect across the UK
Ireland's Online Safety Code age-assurance rules take effect
Missouri: statewide action on school phones (SB 68)
Oregon: statewide action on school phones (Executive Order 25-09)
Ohio: statewide action on school phones (HB 96)
North Carolina: statewide action on school phones (HB 959)
New Hampshire: statewide action on school phones (HB 2)
Vermont: statewide action on school phones (HB 480)
Rhode Island: statewide action on school phones (SB 771)
Texas: statewide action on school phones (HB 1481)
Ireland: smartphones banned in primary schools and restricted all day in post-primary
Nevada: statewide action on school phones (SB 444)
Nebraska: statewide action on school phones (LB 140)
Alaska: statewide action on school phones (HB 57)
The U.S. TAKE IT DOWN Act becomes law, targeting non-consensual intimate images
Alabama: statewide action on school phones (HB 166)
New York: statewide action on school phones (Senate Bill S3006C (state budget))
Colorado: statewide action on school phones (HB 25)
Austria bans phones for the whole school day up to grade 8
Iowa: statewide action on school phones (HF 782)
West Virginia: statewide action on school phones (HB 2003)
North Dakota: statewide action on school phones (HB 1160)
Arizona: statewide action on school phones (HB 2484)
New Mexico: statewide action on school phones (SB 11)
Oklahoma: statewide action on school phones (SB 139)
Tennessee: statewide action on school phones (SB 0897)
Kentucky: statewide action on school phones (House Bill 208)
Arkansas: statewide action on school phones (SB 142)
Scotland updates Respect for All, its national anti-bullying approach
Idaho: statewide action on school phones (Executive order)
Cyprus passes a law keeping phones switched off all school day
California: statewide action on school phones (Assembly Bill No. 3216)
Washington: statewide action on school phones (district guidance)
All ten Canadian provinces now restrict phones in class
Montana: statewide action on school phones (Governor's Letter)
Connecticut: statewide action on school phones (Personal Technology Use in Connecticut Schools: Impact of Social Media and the Use of Cell Phones on Student Learning and Mental Health)
South Carolina: statewide action on school phones (Budget proviso in 2024-25 Appropriations Act)
Ireland publishes the Bí Cineálta anti-bullying procedures for all schools
Louisiana: statewide action on school phones (Senate Bill 207)
Minnesota: statewide action on school phones (SF 3567)
Indiana: statewide action on school phones (Senate Bill 185)
UK Online Safety Act creates new threatening and false communications offences
EU directive requires all 27 countries to criminalise cyber-harassment by June 2027
Every Australian state and territory now bans or restricts phones in public schools
Mexico publishes federal guidelines requiring every state to adopt a bullying protocol
Florida becomes the first U.S. state to restrict phones in class by law
The UK's Online Safety Act becomes law, with Ofcom as regulator
Greece requires a named anti-bullying lead in every school (Law 5029/2023)
France makes school harassment a specific crime
Australia's Online Safety Act 2021 takes effect, with the eSafety Cyberbullying Scheme
Ireland's Online Safety and Media Regulation Act creates Coimisiún na Meán
Northern Ireland's Addressing Bullying in Schools Act takes effect
Spain's LOPIVI law requires bullying protocols and a wellbeing coordinator in every school
Ireland enacts Coco's Law against serious online harassment and intimate-image abuse
Western Australia: phones "off and away all day" in public schools
Victoria: phones off and away all day in government schools
Romania bans bullying in schools and requires anti-bullying groups (Law 221/2019)
Italy passes Law 71/2017, its first cyberbullying law
Netherlands: the Safety at School Act requires an anti-bullying policy in every school
Manitoba's Safe and Inclusive Schools Act defines bullying in the Public Schools Act
Ontario's Accepting Schools Act takes effect
Quebec requires every school to adopt an anti-bullying and anti-violence plan (Bill 56)
Nova Scotia's Promotion of Respectful and Responsible Relationships Act amends the Education Act
Lantern is educational information, not legal advice. State laws change, so please confirm details with your district and your state education department.
Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with credit, under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 licence.