Recently, the amount of time teenagers spend on smartphones has continued to increase. Smartphones are useful tools for studying, communicating with friends, and finding necessary information. However, excessive smartphone usage can negatively affect teenagers by reducing their sleep time, lowering their concentration, and eventually harming their academic performance and mental health. As a result, many students stay up late using their phones and struggle to stay awake or focus in class. Thus, the government needs to introduce realistic measures to address teenagers' smartphone use.

China has proposed a policy which restricts smartphone and internet usage among adolescents. Daily usage limits are set differently based on age: 40 minutes for those under 8, 1 hour for those aged 8 to 15, and 2 hours for those aged 16 to 18. Although this policy limits teenagers’ freedom, I believe it has positive effects because it helps protect their sleep and health. However, I think a more balanced solution that respects teenagers’ freedom while still placing reasonable restrictions would be more appropriate.

At the same time, I do not agree with legally limiting teenagers' daily smartphone usage. In today’s society, smartphones are often essential for tasks such as completing school assignments, attending online classes, and searching for information. Nevertheless, I believe that late-night smartphone use needs to be reduced. Activities such as watching short-form videos, playing online games, or texting with friends can result in insufficient sleep. This may lead to decreased concentration and lower academic performance.

Korea previously had a “shutdown law” that restricted late-night online games for teenagers. However, the policy was later removed due to concerns about violating adolescents’ rights and the policy’s decreasing effectiveness in the changing digital environment. Rather than eliminating the system entirely, I believe the government should adapt the system to fit today’s smartphone-centered environment. For example, smartphone use could be restricted from 10 PM to 6 AM for teenagers. The government should play a central role by creating the basic rules, while providing parents with a certain degree of authority to adjust the restrictions. This balance would allow families to manage smartphone use according to their own judgment.

While smartphones are an essential part of modern life, developing reasonable measures for smartphone use is also crucial. Rather than imposing strict limits on overall smartphone use, I believe a more realistic and effective solution is to reduce late-night smartphone use. Parents should also have the ability to manage these restrictions when necessary. Society and families must work together to ensure that adolescents get enough rest, maintain good health, and use smartphones responsibly.

원가영 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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