South Korea Bans Students from Using Cell Phones in Schools

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION/pan zhen

JAKARTA - South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of mobile phones and other digital devices in school classrooms amid growing concerns about the impact of excessive social media use among young people.

The ban, which will take effect in March next year, makes South Korea the latest country to restrict smartphone and social media use among minors.

Surveys show South Korea is among the most digitally connected countries in the world, with 99% of South Koreans connected to the internet and 98% owning smartphones, according to the US-based Pew Research Center.

This figure is the highest among 27 countries surveyed in 2022 and 2023.

The legislation enacting the ban received bipartisan support in a parliamentary vote on Wednesday, August 27.

"Our young people's addiction to social media is at a serious level now," said Cho Jung-hun, a lawmaker from the opposition People Power Party and one of the bill's sponsors, as reported by Reuters.

"Our children, their eyes are red every morning. They're on Instagram until 2 or 3 a.m.," Cho told parliament.

About 37% of middle and high school students say social media affects their daily lives.

Meanwhile, 22% feel anxious if they can't access their social media accounts, according to a survey by the Ministry of Education last year.

Many schools in South Korea already have restrictions on smartphone use, which are now formalized by the bill.

Digital devices will still be permitted for students with disabilities or for educational purposes.

Some youth advocacy groups oppose the smartphone ban, arguing that it would violate children's human rights.