FARGO — Thursday, Aug. 21, marked the first day of school for many North Dakota high schools and the start of a new normal as a state ban on cellphones in classrooms went into effect.

For students, it was uncharted territory, a school day without a phone in their pocket or at their side.

Mark Krejci, a psychology professor at Concordia College, said that reduced phone access may initially trigger anxiety and the fear of missing out, or FOMO.

“Their conversation skills are shortened. They don't perseverate in conversations as long. And so by helping students regulate cellphone exposure, social media exposure. Will that pay off in terms of being able to carry on a conversation?” Krejci said.

Krejci noted that studies on decreasing social media usage show increased levels of anxiety, but

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