South Korea passed the bill banning mobile phones in school classrooms

South Korea has made a law banning the use of mobile phones in school classrooms. With this step, South Korea has joined countries like Australia and the Netherlands, which have imposed similar bans.

• South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of mobile phones in school classrooms across the country and has joined other countries in efforts to prevent the use of social media among minors.
• Australia is the first country in the world to completely ban the use of social media by children under 16 years of age.
• This bill, which will come into effect in March next year, bans smart devices including mobile phones in classrooms and was passed on August 27, 2025.
• With this step, South Korea has become the latest country to ban the use of social media among school children, with countries like Australia and the Netherlands also taking similar steps.
• According to the Pew Research Center, 99% of South Koreans are online and 98% own smartphones, placing the country at the top of the global chart in terms of digital connectivity. However, this over-connectivity has raised serious concerns about its impact on young minds.

The main provisions include-

• Complete ban on the use of mobile phones during classes
• Exceptions for disabled students and educational purposes
• Applicable to all primary, middle, and high schools across the country
• The purpose of this step is to help students focus, reduce screen dependency, and promote healthy sleep and lifestyle habits.

Similar measures have also been adopted here-

• In France, parental consent is mandatory for minors under 15 years of age.
• In Germany, minors aged 13 to 16 are allowed to use social media only with their parents’ consent.
• The state of Florida in the United States has passed a law banning the use of social media by minors under the age of 14. However, this law has been challenged in court.
• Other countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, and China have banned the use of phones in all schools. In the Netherlands, according to a study conducted in July 2025, mobile phone bans have improved concentration in classrooms.

Situation in India

• There is no specific law in the country that regulates the use of social media by minors.
• However, according to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, social media platforms are required to obtain verifiable consent from the legal guardian of children to process the data of children under 18 years of age.

Self-regulation of social media

• At present, some social media platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok restrict access to their sites for minors under 13 years of age.