NYC Bans Student AI Use Until High School
What? New York City schools are cracking down on artificial intelligence in the classroom. A new ban, which will cover the 2026-2027 school year, will bar students from using AI until they reach high school. Even then, high schoolers will only be allowed to use AI in certain instances. Chatbots designed for companionship and mental health support will be banned across all grades.
So What? AI has been widely adopted by both students and teachers in recent years despite potential concerns. But some are pushing back. In a statement, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “Children need teachers and human connection in order to learn and grow. They need to develop skills alongside their peers, build relationships with educators and wrestle with tough problems on their own. The tech industry wants us to believe that AI-powered early education is not only inevitable, but necessary. We do not see it that way.”
Now What? We’ve talked about AI use in schools and even potential restrictions recently proposed by students themselves. Parents should familiarize themselves with the AI policies in their child’s school (if there are any) and determine how much they want the technology to be incorporated into their child’s education.
Teens and ‘Social Jetlag’
What? Is it bad for teens to sleep in on the weekends? A new analysis suggests that oversleeping on the weekends is tied to higher rates of anxiety for teens.
So What? When operating on an earlier wake-up schedule throughout the week and then abruptly shifting to a late-to-bed, late-to-rise schedule on the weekend, teens experienced what the analysis dubbed “social jetlag”—so named because this inconsistent sleep schedule results in a similar feeling to traditional jetlag, as the body’s internal clock struggles to adjust. Teens with social jetlag were more likely to have “severe anxiety symptoms.”
Now What? A conclusion of the analysis was that “sleep time and regularity may deserve more attention in teen mental health,” and we at Plugged In agree. Consistent sleep is important for everyone’s health, but it’s especially important for developing teens. Encourage your kids to stay on a regular sleep schedule—even if they do catch a few extra Zs on the weekend—and keep phones out of their bedrooms at night, which can derail consistent sleep.
Meta Agrees to Pay $18 Billion Settlement
What? Meta reached an agreement to pay $18 billion to state governments after losing a major federal lawsuit which alleged the company used deceptive tactics to get teens addicted to social media. Additionally, Meta has promised to make changes to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to better protect teens on social media.
So What? As more information keeps coming out about the (intentionally designed) addictive elements of social media, tech companies like Meta are being taken to task regarding the risks associated with their products. Hopefully, Meta will follow through with the proposed changes to its platforms to better protect teens—and hopefully, other social media companies will follow suit.
Now What? While Meta’s proposed changes are a step in the right direction, parents still need to be involved in helping their teens manage social media and other screentime usage. Ask your own teens about these new changes and whether they think the changes will be effective. Consider setting up screen-free zones and times in your own home.
6 Responses
The distinction between limiting classroom AI use and banning companion or mental-health chatbots across all grades is especially important. Allowing high school students to use AI only in defined situations could work, but the policy will need clear guidance for teachers and families.
The distinction between limiting classroom AI until high school and banning companion or mental-health chatbots across all grades is especially interesting. It highlights how schools are trying to address both academic integrity and student safety at the same time.
Of course my boy Mamdani is out here looking out for the kids mental health. I love that. I cry watching his campaign speeches, it’s wild to have any politician who genuinely wants to make life better for their constituents.
The NYC schools’ plan to restrict AI through the 2026–2027 school year raises important questions about teaching responsible use, especially when high school students may access it only in limited situations. Banning companion and mental-health chatbots across all grades also highlights the need to distinguish between academic tools and systems that can shape students’ emotional well-being.
The NYC school ban’s distinction between limited high-school AI use and a complete prohibition on companion and mental-health chatbots raises an important question about how schools can protect students without ignoring AI’s educational potential. The 2026–2027 timeline should give educators enough room to develop clear, practical guidelines.
The NYC policy’s distinction between limiting classroom AI use and banning companion or mental-health chatbots is especially important, since those tools raise different safety and dependency concerns. It will be interesting to see how schools define the “certain instances” where high school students can use AI.