Over a third of teenagers admit they have trouble limiting the time they spend scrolling through videos on social media. Many parents worry that this habit is taking away from other important activities in their lives
South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of smartphones in schools during classes, joining a list of countries restricting the use of phones among children and teens.
The law, set to take effect in the next school year starting March 2026, is the outcome of a bipartisan initiative aimed at tackling smartphone addiction, amid growing research highlighting its negative impacts.
The ban has been backed by parents and teachers who say that smartphones affect students’ performance, as many of them spend more time on their devices than studying.
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Some countries, such as Finland and France, have implemented limited phone bans, applying the restrictions only in schools for younger children. In contrast, countries like Italy, the Netherlands, and China have imposed broader bans, restricting phone use across all schools.
‘Can’t put down their phones’
The mother of a 14-year-old in Seoul, Choi Eun-young, told BBC that she supports the bill since children these days “just can’t seem to put their smartphones down.”
However, the problem is not rampant just among children and teens. A 2024 government survey reveals that 51 million people in