Thailand’s Education Ministry has announced plans to limit the use of smartphones in schools because of fears that children’s development is suffering because they have become hooked on the technology.

Caretaker Minister Permpoon Chidchob told a press briefing that too many students bring smartphones to school and spend too much time using them. He said research in Western countries has found that the overuse of smartphones inhibits young people’s ability to stay focused during class.

Students addicted to phones and social media often see their grades drop.

He said that cell phones have been banned from the classroom in France, Italy, Britain, and the Netherlands since 2022, and Canada will enact similar rules starting in the 2025 school year.

The minister added that young people’s overreliance on technology also raises concerns over their emotional health, as many students are addicted to social media.

Research in Thailand has confirmed that smartphones and social media adversely impact children’s brains and intelligence development.

Children who spend six and a half hours or more on screens daily tend to have lower IQs than their peers who spend less time on devices. They also risk developing a short attention span and slow learning.

The Office of the Education Council has proposed a measure to wean young people off smartphones by developing more outside-of-class activities such as sports, exercises and camping adventures in the wilderness.

Reading and story-telling classes will be held more often in all public schools to improve students’ attention spans. He said parents will also be asked to limit their children’s smartphone use and spend more time with them.