South Korea bans smartphones in all middle and elementary school classrooms
South Korea has banned the use of smartphones and smart devices in elementary and middle school classrooms, effective from 2026. The legislation allows principals and teachers to stop students from carrying or using phones on school grounds, but students can still use them during emergencies and for educational purposes. The move is aimed at addressing the growing problem of smartphone addiction, with a 2024 government survey finding that nearly a quarter of the country's population, and 43% of children and teens, could not control their smartphone use. While the law has its opponents who argue it infringes on students' rights, South Korea is not the only country to have implemented such restrictions, with France, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, China, and several US states also placing various levels of restrictions on smartphone use in schools.
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