South Korea, like other nations, has taken steps to limit children's use of social media by passing a bill that forbids mobile phones in classrooms across the country, officials announced Thursday.

Due to worries about student smartphone addiction, South Korea, one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, has recently attempted to strengthen regulations on electronic devices in classrooms.

The National Assembly spokeswoman told AFP that the bill, which will go into effect in March of next year, forbids smart gadgets, including cell phones, in schools.

Following similar actions in nations like Australia and the Netherlands, South Korea is the most recent to impose restrictions on schoolchildren's usage of social media.

The rule prohibits the use of cellphones in classrooms, according to a statement from Seoul's Education Ministry, unless they are required for instructional purposes or as assistive technology for pupils with special education requirements or disabilities.

Limiting the access and utilization of such devices to protect students' right to pursue education and support teachers' activities is another legal principle established by the law, it continued.

Cho Jung-hun, the bill's introducer and a member of the opposition People Power Party, stated that the matter has been "contentious amid concerns over human rights violations" for a long time.

However, the nation's National Human Rights Commission subsequently reversed its position, stating that restrictions on the use of phones for educational purposes do not violate any rights because they have a detrimental effect on students' emotional and academic development.

In light of this, senators stated in a document introducing the measure that "clearly defining rules on smart device use in schools was necessary to ease social conflict."

However, the left-wing Jinbo Party and other organizations have criticized it, claiming that the bill will violate students' rights to education and internet freedom.

The legislation "deprives adolescents of opportunities to adapt to the digital environment and prevents them from learning to make responsible decisions on their own," the party said in a statement.