Writer Becky Hunter Kelm explores new smartphone bans abroad while sharing why she’s committed to raising her sons without phones.
South Korea is the latest country to take action on the evidence of the harmful effects of smartphone addiction on young people. The bill to ban the use of mobile phones and smart devices in schools (during lesson hours) will pass next March 2026, and it will give teachers the authority to prohibit young people from using smartphones whilst on school property.
Critics point out that a ban might not address the root cause of addiction, but to me no smartphones during lessons is a no-brainer- phones in the classroom will only result in distracted students and a dip in academic performance.
A Korean mother in the BBC report points out that her 14-year-old daughter can’t seem to put her phone down
A Korean mother in the BBC report points out that her 14-year-old daughter can’t seem to put her phone down, and that school is about more than just studying, it’s about taking part in a community and making friends- and phones are disrupting this.
READ MORE: Phones, tablets and computers are here to stay but you can teach your child to have safe screen time
The new bill is also going to call for schools in Korea to include education on smartphone use- and I do think education could be key for winning this battle and helping our young people to see that a smartphone-free childhood really is in their best interests.
One 18-year-old pushed back on the bill in Korea, arguing that the ban will only cause young people to overuse their phones on the commute home or at night after homework.
‘Rather than simply taking phones away, I think the first step should be teaching students what they can do without them,’ says Seo Min-joon, an 18-year-old high schooler who spoke up against the smartphone ban.
READ MORE: I didn’t think I had an addiction to technology but my Lent fast revealed the truth
There was a call for bans on smartphones in Devon, UK, recently, and I hope the pendulum is slowly swinging back as we begin to understand the impact of smartphone access on young people.
I’m raising my children in Türkiye, where local news reported this year that people surpass the global average in daily internet use.
As a Christian mum with 3 sons, aged 11, 9, and 5, I already battle screen time limits in terms of Minecraft and Netflix.
As a Christian mum with 3 sons, aged 11, 9, and 5, I already battle screen time limits in terms of Minecraft and Netflix. But my 11-year-old is the only child without a phone in his class (students have to hand phones in for the day), and whilst he has asked for one, my personal weapon of choice is: education!
I tell him the reasons why as parents who love him, we do the research. We don’t just say a blanket ‘no’ to be mean. I tell him I read parent forums about young people and smartphones, and that we believe a smartphone-free childhood is God’s best for him. I tell him about the risks of cyber-bullying and grooming online, and how exhausting it is for young brains to be connected to their classmates via a device 24/7. And his response - ‘cool, mum.’
READ MORE: I’m a Christian mum-of-three and here’s why every parent should keep their kids offline for as long as possible
As parents we also try and say ‘yes’ to other things he wants to do with friends, and as a family, and I think that helps my boys see that life is better enjoyed when you go have your own adventures, rather than only watch them on Instagram (we love snorkelling adventures, and I do let them watch whale-shark reels on my account!).
I have Christian friends who think differently and who have chosen to give smartphones a limited daily usage time, and their reasoning is that connection to their peers is important. I can see their point of view, and I do let my 11 year old facetime friends now and then to game together on his Ipad. However, for my family, I know how addictive smartphones are because I struggle to put my own down! If I battle every morning to read God’s word before I start scrolling, there is no way I want to put that temptation into my kids’ life!
My prayer is that mums who want to give their children a smartphone-free childhood can support each other as the more of us there are that stick to our convictions, the easier for our young people.
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