Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte kicked off the new school year Wednesday by visiting Skyview High School in Billings, where he used a library press conference to urge school districts statewide to adopt phone-free policies and raise alarms about the effects of social media on student learning, as first reported by the Billings Gazette.

The Governor’s Case Against Phones in Classrooms

Gianforte argued that social media platforms are leaving students sleep-deprived and unprepared to engage in the classroom. He said children are constantly hit with notifications that pull their focus away from schoolwork and in-person relationships.

“It sucks people in, causes them to scroll. They lose sleep at night. They show up not well rested. They’re not ready to learn when they get to school,” Gianforte said, according to the Billings Gazette.

The governor pointed to rising screen time among teenagers as evidence of the problem. Between 2014 and 2020, daily screen time for teens climbed from roughly six and a half hours to about eight and a half hours — a trend he said demands a policy response.

“That’s time that’s not spent playing on the playground, building relationships or learning,” Gianforte told the Billings Gazette. “As technology continues to change and the usage increases, we need policies that protect youth and respect the role of parents and safeguard privacy.”

Billings Schools Already on Board

Skyview High School and the broader Billings Public Schools district have already implemented phone-free policies, which officials have credited with improving academic outcomes. Gianforte held up those local policies as a model for other districts across Montana to follow, framing the decision as one best made at the school board level.

The governor’s visit was timed to coincide with the first day of school, giving the issue visibility at the moment families and educators are thinking about classroom environments and student well-being.

Meta Settlement and Legislative Push

Gianforte also highlighted Montana’s $16 billion settlement with Meta over social media harms. That deal includes restrictions such as a two-hour daily limit on social media use and a “night mode” feature that automatically shuts down the app after midnight.

State Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, a Billings Republican, joined Gianforte at the press conference and said he is working on bipartisan legislation that would prohibit addictive design features used by social media companies in Montana, with children designated as a protected class under the measure.

Zolnikov indicated that both Republicans and Democrats have shown willingness to move forward on the issue when the legislature convenes — approximately three months away — though the specific details of potential bills are still being worked out.

The prospect of bipartisan agreement on a technology regulation bill is notable in Montana’s otherwise polarized political environment. Social media restrictions affecting minors have drawn support from lawmakers across party lines in other states as well, reflecting broader public concern over youth mental health and smartphone use in schools.

Broader Policy Context

Gianforte’s appearance fits a pattern of the governor using high-profile public settings to build momentum for policy priorities ahead of the legislative session. His administration has increasingly focused on issues at the intersection of parental rights, youth safety, and technology — areas where he has found receptive audiences among Montana’s conservative base while also attracting some Democratic support.

As interim committees continue their study work in preparation for the 2027 session, social media regulation is shaping up to be one of the more closely watched issues heading into the next legislative cycle. Whether Zolnikov’s legislation advances will depend in part on how the specific proposals are framed and which industry interests weigh in during the drafting process.

For now, Gianforte is encouraging school boards to act on their own authority without waiting for state law, pointing to Billings as proof that local phone-free policies can deliver measurable results in the classroom.