Elsa Angel Rose
Denmark’s prime minister is pushing for a ban on social media for children under age 15, as mobile phones and social media are, in her words, “stealing our children’s childhood”. South Korea has already passed a bill banning the use of mobile phones and smart devices during class hours in schools, which is coming into effect in March 2026, and Australia has announced the world’s first social media ban for teens under 16 starting this December. These international examples highlight how serious the issue of unchecked device use has become globally. Even in the small state of Goa, students grapple with concentrating for long, unnecessary information overload, and more.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Teachers and parents are equally concerned about their future. Mobile phones are banned in schools across Goa. They are banned during class hours in colleges, but still, students are not really able to detach themselves from their phones. Being a teacher, one comes in touch with a variety of students and their parents, when asked about what should be parents approach towards guiding their children concerning mobile phone use and addiction, Leander said, “Parents should actively monitor the content their children consume and guide them to use the internet productively by exploring educational content, skillbuilding, and hobbies. While regulating screen time is important, the ultimate goal is to teach children to self-regulate their device use.” The teacher was pleasantly surprised when he noticed that “a large number of students are yet to engage in social media platforms, even at the higher secondary level.”
This is a testament to the effectiveness of discipline and parental oversight. Rhea Rodrigues said, “While it would be unreasonable to expect a child to completely switch off from using devices, they should not be allowed to own any smart devices or social media accounts till at least 18 years of age. Even when using them for educational purposes, parents must supervise what their child is watching or learning from their devices on a regular basis. Also, screen time must be regulated.”
