Will it work in Israel too? This is how long students in South Korea try to live without a phone

Gyeonggi Province in South Korea has launched a "100-day phone-free challenge," which includes disconnecting from screens before sleep, meals without phones, and replacing screen time with reading, art, and sports. Over 10,000 students from 1,300 schools have joined. 100 students who demonstrate the most significant change will win an educational trip to China.

Gyeonggi Province in South Korea has launched an ambitious campaign called "100-day phone-free challenge," aimed at reducing smartphone use among students. Over 10,000 elementary, middle, and high school students from 1,300 schools across the province have joined the initiative. The program is based on key principles: schools are required to regulate and limit the use of mobile devices on their premises, and students are encouraged to dedicate the freed-up time to reading, creativity, and physical activity. As part of the campaign, students and their families signed a personal and family pledge, which includes limiting daily screen time, stopping phone use at least one hour before sleep, and putting devices aside during meals. Students are also asked to keep a log. The initiative was presented last weekend in Paris to the OECD Directorate for Education and Skills by the district's education superintendent, Ahn Min-seok, and he is expected to present it at the organization's global forum in December. The campaign will continue until December 15, when the collected data is expected to be published. As a prize, 100 students who lead the change most prominently will win an educational tour of Shanghai and Hangzhou in China. The article presents the initiative neutrally and describes the broader question behind it: how to set boundaries for children's screen use without giving up the benefits of technology.