Goheung-gun Conducts Internet and Smartphone Overdependence Prevention Education

Healing Adolescents with Increased Smartphone Overdependence Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it will conduct internet overdependence prevention education for two weeks from the 30th of last month to the 9th of this month.

The education, conducted in four sessions for 122 fifth graders at Goheungdong Elementary School, includes ▲exploring smartphone usage habits in daily life ▲recognizing types of smartphone use ▲acquiring legal knowledge related to smartphones ▲strengthening smartphone usage control skills to help students find their own strategies for proper smartphone use.

Additionally, after the education, the county plans to support customized healing services for youth based on the results of the internet and smartphone usage habit diagnosis conducted annually by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for students in transitional school years (4th grade elementary, 1st grade middle, 1st grade high school), and to assist the healthy growth of local youth through follow-up education.

A county official stated, “This year, especially due to the delayed school opening caused by the spread of COVID-19, the time spent at home has increased, leading to a rise in youth overdependent on smartphones,” adding, “We will actively support individual and parental counseling as well as group counseling to help youth and families struggling with internet and smartphone overdependence issues.”