I think, therefore IB

South Korea has taken a bold step by banning the use of mobile phones and smart devices during class hours. Beginning in March 2026, students will no longer be allowed to scroll, swipe, or stream in school. It’s a move that many argue is long overdue—and one that should spark a wider global conversation: should children under 16 even have access to smartphones and social media in the first place?

The evidence is overwhelming. Smartphone overuse is damaging young people’s ability to focus, build real friendships, and even regulate their emotions. Studies cited by South Korean lawmakers show clear links between phone addiction and stunted brain development. Parents report their children losing sleep, neglecting studies, and falling victim to online bullying. Teachers, meanwhile, say classrooms are increasingly disrupted by students unable to detach from their screens. These aren’t minor inconveniences—they are serious risks to learning, mental health, and safety.

And yet, society continues to hand these powerful, addictive devices to children with little more than a shrug. Would we give a 13-year-old the keys to a car without requiring lessons, supervision, and a licence? Of course not. Cars are dangerous in untrained hands. But so are phones and social media. They can kill attention spans, damage mental health, and in tragic cases, drive young people toward self-harm.

It’s time to treat digital literacy like driver’s education. Before gaining access to social media—or even owning a smartphone—young people should have to complete a course on healthy, responsible use of technology. They should then pass an exam, just as they would for a driving licence. Only by demonstrating that they understand the risks and responsibilities should they be allowed full access.

The South Korean ban is an important first step, but it doesn’t go far enough. To truly protect the next generation, we need to reframe phones and the internet not as harmless toys, but as powerful tools requiring education and regulation. A digital licence could be the key to ensuring that children grow up with control over technology—rather than being controlled by it.

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