Use of cell phones is prohibited in school
A wave of support for restricting teenagers from using smartphones in the classroom and accessing social networks is happening in some countries, according to an article on CNA.
In June, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced he would push for health warning labels on social media platforms to warn parents of the risk of “significant mental health harm.” for teenagers".
In the past few months, a number of states and districts in the US have also banned smartphones in schools in an effort to help students focus on lectures and interact more with each other.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill requiring social media platforms to restrict "addictive feeds" for users under 18, unless there is parental consent. Under this law, children will not receive algorithmically suggested feeds but will only see posts from accounts they follow.
The moves come a year after UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - recommended that all schools should ban smartphones to tackle distractions. in the classroom, improving learning and helping protect children from cyberbullying.
Countries such as China, France, Finland, Italy and most recently the Netherlands have banned smartphones in schools. The UK is considering enacting a similar move.
Singapore does not completely ban smartphones in all schools, however some schools do not allow students to use these devices in class. But bans are unlikely to stop children from playing games outside of school hours. And even if popular social media platforms like Meta and TikTok are forced to restrict underage users, an alternative platform may soon emerge and attract young people.
According to a 2019 survey in Singapore, the average age a child gets their first Internet-connected device is about 8 years old, 2 years earlier than the global average age of 10 years old. Post-COVID-19, this age group is even younger.
Another survey by KK Mothers and Children's Hospital in 2022 found that most children aged 3 to 7 years in Singapore spend too much time in front of screens.
On streets and public places, it is not difficult to observe many people walking with their eyes glued to their phone screens, crossing the street without even looking up. Many parents even let their children do the same thing, staring at their smartphone screens while sitting in the stroller.
The problem is that adults should become good role models and guide children on how to use modern but "addictive" technology in our day and age.
Establish healthy limits and parental roles
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the book "The Anxious Generation," advises parents not to let children use smartphones until middle school.
Although too long exposure to phone screens will cause harm, parents should not go to the extreme of banning children from going online or using the latest tools. For example, YouTube, in addition to being entertaining, can also be used as an effective self-study channel for children through many useful educational channels.
According to author Ian Yong Hoe Tan, communications lecturer at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, to help children find the right balance, families should start by keeping Get rid of electronic devices and spend time having warm, cozy meals together.
Dinner conversation topics can revolve around what's going on in the lives of family members. When children talk about challenges they face in the online world, parents share perspectives to help them think things through.
Parents should also regularly talk with their children to update the latest online trends of young people to integrate and share with their children.
Parenting has never been easy, parents should let their children use smartphones at the right time and equip themselves with enough knowledge about technology to guide their children through these problems. Complex problems in the online "maze". In every sense of the phrase, we simply cannot leave our children to use their smartphones as they please, we need the company of our parents.
