Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to ban smartphones in New York schools with a new bill.

According to Gov. Hochul, having phones during school hours is harmful for young people. She cites research that shows social media is addictive. When asked how children will reach their parents, Gov. Hochul suggested the use flip phones so they don't have access to internet during the day.

This effort comes amid a bigger mental health protection plan from the governor. She's looking to pass the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) Act, which places restrictions on social media companies she says are harming children with addictive features and data collection.

The governor said the bill to ban smartphones in schools could be submitted later this year and voted on in next year's legislative session. She says it's a crucial step to protect children’s mental health.