[My View - 000] on Mobile Phone Usage in schools.

Let’s go back in time and imagine the early use of mobile phones.

People had to carry them with both hands and could only use them for messaging and calling.

Now, in 2025, we have slim handsets that easily slip into our pockets. Technology has undoubtedly advanced over the years, but that hasn’t necessarily made most students any smarter than before.

Instead of serving as useful educational tools, phones have evolved into addictions, profoundly impacting students' attitudes toward learning.

Just like how a stone dropped from a great height causes ripples in the water, advanced technology and online communication have changed the world. Yet smart, educated students are longing for stillness—for the water to become calm again.

Social media has made students all over the world lazier. They are becoming more isolated, and family members no longer spend enough time with each other. Influenced by what they see online, students are beginning to show disrespect to others, turning the world into a bleak room filled with loneliness and darkness.

It’s not just about isolation and mental health—physical health must also be considered. Too much screen time can harm eyesight. Many students stay awake past midnight, spending their time playing video games, scrolling through the internet, or misusing social media.

One of the main reasons parents allow their children to have phones is for travel. Some students, especially those in secondary school, commute daily by train or bus. Parents have become accustomed to needing their children to call and update them on their whereabouts.

But many parents are oblivious to how their children are misusing these phones, and nothing seems to stop students from repeating this pattern.

Instead, students could carry a small GPS tracker in their bags, which connects to their parents’ phones.

In my opinion, phones should be banned in schools. Doing so would give students the opportunity to spend more time learning. Some students are already making use of this opportunity—they are innovators and game changers.

We need more of them.

So let’s make a change. Let’s educate ourselves and realize that the world can be a much better place.