Yes, but only once.
Students scan a QR code from the school to get started.
No usernames, passwords, or accounts are required.

Much less than TikTok, Instagram and other social media. If you are into specifics, social media uses Gigabytes of data vs The Commons only uses Megabytes (1,000x less). TikTok and Instagram can utilize over 1 Gigabyte of data per hour!

The Commons can even help save data on your plan because our app blocks social media apps from running all day on your student’s device.

Yes, if your child needs their phone for a medical or academic purpose, The Commons is able to allow those apps to function, while still blocking the distracting ones. Please let the principal know what applications your child will need access to before The Commons is activated.

Each school’s student cell phone policy is different.
If a student deletes, deactivates or disables the app, the school will be notified and can check in. The goal is to help students make better choices.

Most schools give students their own school devices like laptops or tablets, so they don’t need to use their personal phones for class. If there’s ever a time a phone is needed for a specific school activity, the school will have a process to allow certain apps to be used.

Only phones that are paired with The Commons app will activate when entering the school grounds. All other phones will function as normal.

Yes. The Commons does not block phone calls or messages. If your child needs to reach you—or you need to reach them—that’s still possible. Our app does not interfere or slow down the ability to do that.

However, schools often have their own rules about phone use during the day. We always recommend checking your school’s policy or student handbook to know what’s allowed.

Only phones that are paired with The Commons app will activate when entering the school grounds. All other phones will function as normal.

Right now, The Commons is designed to help principals and trusted school staff support students in building healthier technology habits during the school day. We understand that many parents are interested in more visibility into their child’s phone use, and we’re actively exploring future features that could provide those insights.

No. The Commons is not a location tracker. We use an invisible geofence, which is simply a virtual boundary set around the school. When your child enters that school zone, their phone is automatically switched into School Mode — blocking distracting apps during the school day.

The Commons does not collect personal data from users. The only information we gather is de-identified telemetry data that allows our application to work in order to create a successful distraction-free campus.

To make this work, The Commons uses standard app signals (called telemetry data) — things like whether the app is running and whether the phone is inside the school zone. This data is completely de-identified, meaning it’s never tied to your child’s name, phone number, or location history.

The Commons does not collect any personal data. These signals simply allow the app to function properly and create a distraction-free learning environment.

When students arrive at school, The Commons the app is activated to block distracting apps. When school is over or they leave campus, The Commons app turns off, and the phone functions as normal.

Yes. We don’t transmit or store any personal information from your child through our app. Everything is de-identified, which means the app doesn’t know who the phone belongs to, and we can’t see where your child is or what they’re doing on their phone. The app uses state-of-the-art encryption, and the data we use is anonymous, so the app doesn’t know who the phone belongs to, and we can’t see your child’s location or activity.

The school manages who uses the app, and we follow strict rules to protect student data. We’re aligned with important student privacy laws like FERPA and COPPA, which are made to keep student information safe. We don’t collect any health or medical information either. Your child’s privacy is really important to us, and we’ve built The Commons to support safe and focused learning.

Schools are trying different methods to reduce the burden of student cellphone distractions. Other methods force students to hand over their phones for storage, or they lock the phones in bags that students keep during the day.

The Commons is the only option that allows students to keep their cellphones, without being locked up, while reducing distractions. The Commons helps build better tech habits instead of trying to lock it up.

Great question. The truth is, phones and social media apps are designed to be really hard to ignore—even for good-intentioned adults. Apps send alerts, videos, and messages that make our brains feel good. That’s called a dopamine response, and it’s the same brain chemical that is released when you do drugs or gamble, it makes people want to keep doing something again and again.

That’s why, even with a ‘no-phone' policy, students are still using their cellphone 1.5 hrs every school day - that’s 270 lost learning hours every year! Teens are still learning how to control their choices and focus and their brains aren’t fully developed until their 20s, so it’s hard for them to self-regulate. That’s why tools like The Commons help by limiting those constant temptations—so students can stay present in class and with their friends.

Currently the biggest distraction schools are referencing are cell phones which is why The Commons is prioritizing them. If schools start indicating that smart watches and tablets are becoming a distraction, The Commons is able to adjust our technology to incorporate other devices.

The Commons helps students:

Stay focused in class
Feel less pressure from social media
Learn when to use tech—and when to take a break
Build strong habits for high school, college, and life

The Commons supports key life skills like:

Focus: Staying on task without constant distraction
Self-control: Knowing when to unplug
People skills: Talking, listening, and working together
Confidence: Speaking up, problem-solving, and handling real-life challenges

Common FAQs