Iread the expose on “The great debate on phones in schools” by Editor Pramod de Silva in the Sunday Observer on December 1, with interest.
I am a visitor to Sri Lanka from Sweden, where this exact debate has taken place, as mentioned in the article.
As a result of this debate, focusing on the facts showing increased negative effects on children from the excessive use of social media in general and the distraction and disturbance caused in schools in particular, schools are banning the use of mobile phones during school hours. This has confirmed positive effects, I can say.
Looking at the logical extension of this, being a total ban for children under 16 years, as approved in Australia, I would agree that such a ban is necessary, unfortunately. It is correct, as the article points out, that “the problem is not the use of these devices per se, but the excessive use and the kind of content that students access”.
However, if it is shown that social media platforms operate in a way that entices users into excessive use, or if individuals themselves cannot control their usage, some form of action must be taken.
A similar situation exists with regard to gun control in the USA. There is little to no gun control, leading to disastrous consequences in terms of fatalities and injuries. In 2021, there were 700 mass shootings and 48,830 persons killed in gun violence.
In situations like this, access and use has to be controlled, be it mobile phones or guns. A free-for-all is not always the best way, unfortunately.
Bernt Johansson
