- THECEKODOK.COM - A La Une - 28/Aug 12:13

South Korea Bans Smartphones and Digital Devices in Classrooms

South Korea is the most digitally literate country in the world with 98% of the population owning smartphones and 99% having internet access. However, in classrooms, the use of smartphones and any digital devices will be banned starting March 2026 after a bill to this effect was passed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea yesterday.The ban is only in elementary and middle schools with an exemption 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 were 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 in the hands of each school. Previously, some schools had already banned the use of phones in class but the bill now bans it at the national level.This year has seen 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. In Europe, age verification systems must be used to access online services to filter out content labeled as dangerous.