Express readers discuss whether smartphones should be banned in school

South Korea has become the latest country to limit mobile and smartphone use by children and young people. A bill banning their use during class time in school has been passed by the Asian country.

The new law will come into effect from March 2026 as South Korea attempts to curb addiction to the devices. Despite doubts over how the ban will work, the bill passed with 115 votes in favour out of a possible 163, according to the BBC.

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While there is no law or regulation banning the use of mobile phones in schools in England, schools have always been able to prohibit their use under their own behaviour policies.

The previous Government published non-staturary guidance in February last year, which said schools should ban mobile and smartphones during the school day.

Schools are allowed to draw up their own approaches, with guidance suggesting options such as an outright ban on youngsters bring the devices onto school premises or handing them when they arrive.

Phone bans or limits in schools are already in place or being discussed in countries including Italy, Spain, Hungary, Greece, Finland and Belgium. In France, mobile phones have been banned in primaries and secondaries since 2018.