It’s an age-old reality that teens are resourceful when it comes to bending the rules, and school bathrooms have long been a go-to place for privacy away from the watchful eyes of teachers and principals. This has been true for many generations, including when we were in high school, with bathrooms serving as places for everything from socializing to sneaking in behaviors that wouldn’t be tolerated in the classroom or other public areas in the school. Today, with the rise of technology, school bathrooms can become mini-havens for teens to use their cellphones, despite well-intended school policies meant to limit phone use.
Recently, during a school visit, Darren, observed firsthand how teens work around no-phone policies. He noticed a group of seven teen boys gathered in the school bathroom, all on their phones. The moment they saw Darren, some boys quickly disappeared into stalls, others casually kept using their phones, and a few stashed their devices and left the bathroom. This scene perfectly highlights a reality schools need to understand – teens will always find a way to reclaim control over their devices, especially when they feel restricted.
Schools across the country have increasingly adopted no-phone policies in classrooms, responding to concerns about distractions, social comparison, and the overall negative effects of excessive screen use. (1) While these policies often seem to be working on the surface, improving compliance and focus during school hours, what happens during the unsupervised moments, like bathroom breaks?
For many teens, the bathroom has become a refuge, not just for its intended purpose, but also for catching up on social media, sending quick texts, or simply staying connected. This behavior speaks to a larger issue – teens are incredibly adept at finding loopholes in the rules, especially when it comes to something as integral to their social lives as smartphones.
Whether it’s bathroom stalls or hidden corners of the school, teens have historically found ways to exert their autonomy. In previous generations, students might have used the bathroom to pass notes, have private conversations, sneak a cigarette, or vape (2). Now, phones are the new note-passing and socializing tool, allowing teens to connect even in places intended to be tech-free zones.
Part of adolescence involves testing boundaries. When restrictions are placed on teens, like a no-phone policy, their natural inclination is to find a way to rebel, even if subtly. (3) This is not necessarily because they want to break the rules, but because they want to retain some sense of control in a world where so much is dictated to them.
Phones are personal, a gateway to friendships, entertainment, and self-expression. Removing that connection during “non-classroom hours” may feel to teens like they’re being cut off from a vital part of their identity. It’s why many will take the risk of sneaking their phones in the bathroom or hiding them in their backpacks, hoping they won’t be caught.
For generations, school bathrooms have been a “safer space” for teens. These spaces are not as heavily monitored as classrooms or hallways, making them ideal for engaging in behavior away from adult supervision. Historically, this might have involved gossiping, smoking, vaping, or skipping class – now, it’s checking notifications.
Bathrooms serve as a space in schools where students can escape the structure and expectations of the classroom. Schools may impose rules and enforce them, but in these private spaces, teens reclaim their autonomy, even if just for a few minutes.
So, if student bathrooms are a concern, why don’t teachers or principals patrol them?
As mentioned earlier, school bathrooms have long been a sanctuary for students, offering a moment of privacy, a space for quick chats with friends, or a place to engage in behavior they’d rather not have adults witness. While teachers know that students sometimes bend the rules in these spaces, patrolling bathrooms is rare because it involves a complex balance between ensuring safety and respecting student privacy. Bathrooms are intimate spaces where students expect personal privacy, especially during adolescence when they are becoming more self-aware of their bodies and boundaries. Teachers understand that closely monitoring these areas can feel like an invasion of personal space, potentially crossing a line that makes students feel uncomfortable or exposed.
Additionally, in today’s world, there is a real concern about the potential for allegations of sexual misconduct when a teacher enters such private spaces. The risk that a student could weaponize this supervision by making false claims is a serious consideration for educators. In these sensitive situations, schools must balance their responsibility to ensure student safety while also protecting both student’s dignity and the reputations of staff. If and educator is going to check a bathroom, we always recommend doing so with two educators to help minimize risk, but now this creates an educator resource challenge.
School bathrooms have long been a safe haven for teens to assert their autonomy, whether through socializing, rule-bending, or now, sneaking in some screen time. While schools continue to implement policies to curb distractions, such as no-phone rules, teens have always been resourceful in finding ways around restrictions, demonstrating their natural inclination to push boundaries. Bathrooms, with their unique blend of privacy and escape from constant supervision, have become the latest stage for this subtle push back.
For educators, balancing safety and respect for student privacy remains a challenge. Teachers face the difficult task of upholding rules without infringing on the personal space students expect in such intimate environments. The potential for false accusations, particularly in today’s world, adds another layer of complexity to bathroom supervision. Schools must navigate these tensions carefully, understanding that while policies may curb surface-level behaviors, teens will continue to find their own ways to reclaim control over their space and time. Ultimately, creating a school culture that fosters trust and autonomy through digital literacy education, while maintaining reasonable boundaries, can be more effective than rigid enforcement alone.
IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE – Some schools in Canada may attempt to use a cellphone blocker/jammer in a bathroom or school in an attempt to prevent students from using their cellphones. It is important to note that the use of such devices in Canada is PROHIBITED by law (4)
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Fear, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
2/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/vaping/
3/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/tech-bans-teens-malicious-compliance-and-adult-cognitive-dissonance/
