To combat screen addiction, Hong Kong schools should ban mobile phones

Have you ever turned your mobile phone off for 24 hours and seen the difference it made to your day? I did, and the feeling was undeniably uplifting. I felt totally free and relaxed and had so much time on my hands.

But given how attached most people are to their phones, I think many would find it hard to make that first step of giving up their device for an extended period of time. The thought of leaving one’s mobile phone off for an entire day would almost certainly make most people panic. Now, imagine applying the rule to schools.

In France, that’s exactly what students will have to do. From the next school year in September, a new law will prohibit students aged three to 15 from using mobile phones in school. It’s a voluntary initiative for schools with students older than 15.

Furthermore, students won’t be allowed to use their computers or tablets either unless it’s for educational purposes or during extracurricular activities. Students with disabilities who need such electronic devices will be exempt.

The latest rule is an extension to a law introduced in 2010 that banned smartphone use in class; it goes further by prohibiting their use throughout the school day, including during breaks and mealtimes.