Some 28 percent of elementary, middle and high school students in Seoul use smartphones for over three hours per day, according to a report submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to the city council on Thursday, raising concerns about children's health.
The report on smartphone use among schoolkids last year found that of the 1.098 million schoolkids surveyed, 691,271, or 58.7 percent, had smartphones, and that 16.8 percent of them used phones for three to five hours per day, while 11.2 percent topped five hours.
Looking at a small smartphone display in the same posture for a prolonged period of time could cause chronic dry eyes and harm eyesight.
Many users hold their phones in a hand and bow their heads to look at the screen, potentially leading to back problems and stunting growth.
Experts recommend minimizing smartphone use while on the move and keeping a distance of at least 30 cm between the device and the eyes. Frequent stretching can relieve muscle tension.
