WARSAW, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Poland will restrict smartphone use in elementary schools across the country from Sept. 1 to protect young people from digital addiction and harmful content, the Polish government has announced.
According to a draft amendment to the education law released on the government's official website this week, the new regulations will prohibit students from using smartphones during both breaks and classes.
Exceptions will be made for health-related monitoring, urgent parental contact or educational purposes.
The initiative responds to growing concerns over digital addiction among children and its negative impacts on their concentration, social relationships and mental health.
"We are not talking about censorship, but about having the tools to control this digital reality so that young people do not fall victim to undesirable content," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The Council of Ministers also approved a draft bill protecting minors from online pornography, which will mandate digital service providers to implement effective age-verification methods. ■