Thailand limits digital device use among young students

Caretaker Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob on August 19 said many students bring smartphones, tablets or similar digital devices to school and spend a lot of time using them.

Research has found that the overuse of such devices inhibits young people’s ability to stay focused during class and slows their intelligence in the long term.

Several countries have implemented measures to control student access to the devices during school hours. Some countries have banned students under 16 from using them in schools.

Over-reliance on technology also raises concerns over young people’s emotional health, the minister added.

He said research has confirmed the technology’s adverse impacts on youngsters’ brain and intelligence development.

Accordingly, children with a screen time of six and a half hours or more a day tend to have a lower IQ (intelligence quotient) than their peers who spend less time on the devices. They also are at risk of developing a short attention span and slow learning.

The Office of the Education Council has proposed a measure to wean young students off communication devices by offering more outside-of-class activities such as music lessons, sports, and exercises. To improve students’ attention span, reading and story-telling classes will be organized more often in school. Parents will also be asked to set aside some quality time with their children

Several countries have implemented measures to control student access to the devices during school hours. Some countries have banned students under 16 from using them in schools.