Screen time limits for teenagers: a discussion lesson that Korean high schoolers will actually argue about

Screen Time Limits for Teenagers: Debate Prep

MOTION: The government should limit daily screen time for teenagers under 16.

PRO Arguments (supporting the motion)

• Health protection: Excessive screen time is linked to poor sleep, eye strain, and mental health issues. Teenagers' brains are still developing and they lack the self-control adults have. A limit protects them during critical years.

• Leveling the playing field: Not all parents can monitor screen use. A government policy ensures every teenager gets the same protection, regardless of whether their家庭 enforces rules.

• Precedent exists: South Korea had the Shutdown Law for online games (2011–2021). Other countries restrict gambling, alcohol, and driving for minors. Screen limits are the same category.

• Academic performance: Studies show students who use phones more than 3 hours daily outside of school have lower test scores. A limit would improve national education outcomes.

CON Arguments (opposing the motion)

• Unenforceable: How do you track it? Students will use VPNs, their parents' phones, or friends' devices. The policy will fail like the Shutdown Law did — ignored by those who want to ignore it.

• Overreach: The government should not control personal choices that do not harm others. Parents, not politicians, should decide what is appropriate for their own children.

• Emergency access: What if a teenager needs their phone to call for help, check a bus route, or finish homework after hitting the limit? A blanket cutoff creates dangerous situations.

• Wrong target: The problem is not the phone, it is the content. Banning two hours of educational YouTube is not the same as banning two hours of TikTok. A time limit treats all screen use as equal when it is not.