Should high school students use smartphones?
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Smartphones prove popular with senior and junior high students. [File photo: cnr.cn]

According to a new survey, 84% of parents allow their children to have daily access to smartphones, according to an investigation on the use of smartphones among senior and junior high students, the Guangzhou Daily reported on Wednesday.

However, most believe students shouldn't use smartphones for more than one hour a day.

The survey was published as 180,000 senior high school students in Guangzhou, the capital city of south China's Guangdong province, started the new semester on February 7.

So why are parents so smartphone friendly?

64% of parents said they worry their children will lose contact with friends and society generally without a smartphone.

64% also said they allow their children to use smartphones because of the study apps on the phone.

Meanwhile, 20% gave in to smartphone use after having conflicts with their children, while 60% have had conflicts with the children over the device.

What do schools think?

Compared with the positive attitude towards the use of smartphones among students, the majority of schools in Guangzhou take a stricter attitude. Most schools in Guangzhou forbid students from taking smartphones into class. Some schools even block phone coverage in teaching buildings.

But do students yield to such school policies? Many say they play a game of "hide and seek" with schools: hiding phones in books and in desks, so teachers can't see them. Some students also say they use phones to watch TV series. They go out of their way to keep up with latest episodes, even in the ten-minute breaks between classes.

Should smartphones be banned?

Some parents regret letting children have access to smartphones. Mr. Wei, whose daughter is a senior high student, said that she has her smartphone with her all the time, even when she does homework. "The phone is a great distraction, but it's impossible for me to get the phone away from her now." said Mr. Wei.

Wu Xiaoqin, a psychology teacher in one high school in Guangzhou, said that in most cases, students tend to rely on smartphones to overcome loneliness. She suggests that parents should help children take part in other activities and things they are interested in.

Instead of a complete ban on smartphones, Wu also suggest parents and children talk and come to an agreement on the use of smartphones, such as how many hours a day they can spend on it.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan