Image from Reuters
South Korea will ban the use of smartphones and any digital devices in classrooms from March 2026 after a bill was passed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea yesterday. So, what should you know about it?
No phones for students
For your information, the ban only applies in primary and secondary schools, with exemptions given for learning activities in the classroom. The bill was passed to reduce the impact of social media use on school students.
In a study conducted by the South Korean Ministry of Education last year, 37% of high school students said social media had an impact on their daily lives, while another 22% said they felt anxious if they did not check social media accounts at school.
Although the bill has been passed, any violations will not be punished, as it is up to each school. Previously, some schools had already banned the use of phones in class, but the bill now bans it nationally.
South Korea is not the only country to take action
This year has seen more and more efforts being made to reduce internet access for underage users. Australia became the first country to ban access to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to individuals under the age of 16.
Meanwhile, in Europe, age verification systems are required to access online services to filter out content labelled as harmful. As of now, there is no news or action from Malaysia on this matter. However, it will be interesting to see what the government plans for the youth.
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