South Korea to ban mobile phones in school classrooms

South Korea has passed a bill to ban the use of mobile phones and other digital devices in school classrooms nationwide, amid growing concerns about the effect of social media on young people.

The ban, approved on Wednesday and set to take effect in March next year, makes South Korea the latest country to impose restrictions on smartphone and social media use for minors.

The country is among the world's most digitally connected nations, with 99% of South Koreans online and 98% owning a smartphone, according to the US-based Pew Research Centre.

This is the highest rate among the 27 countries the centre examined in 2022 and 2023.

The law enforcing the ban received backing from both sides of parliament in Wednesday's vote.

"Our youth's addiction to social media is at a serious level now," said Cho Jung-hun, a politician from the opposition People Power Party and a sponsor of the bill.

"Our kids, their eyes are red every morning. They are on Instagram until 2 or 3am," he added.

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A survey conducted by South Korea's Education Ministry found last year that about 37% of middle- and high-school students say social media affects their daily lives.

The survey also found that 22% the same group of students feel anxious if they cannot access their social media accounts.

Many schools in South Korea already enforce their own smartphone restrictions, which the new bill now officially establishes.

Digital devices will remain allowed for students with disabilities or when used for educational purposes.

Some youth advocacy groups have opposed the smartphone ban, saying it would violate children's human rights.

Australia has recently expanded its groundbreaking social media ban for teenagers, while a July study revealed that prohibiting mobile phones in Dutch schools has improved students' concentration.