The weapon of mass distraction that’s destroying Thai students 

Thailand’s online community is growing strongly, with 82 per cent of its population using the Internet and spending almost 10 hours online and over three hours on social media each day, ranking among the top five in the world.
Should we be pleased or concerned about this news?
If the average Thai person spends 10 hours per day online, what about youngsters? They are likely to spend much longer online, which eats into their time for sleeping and for studying.
Indeed, we often hear parents complain that their children are spending less time reading books and more time on mobile phones.
Schools have various ways of handling the problem, from an outright ban on mobile phones to a rule they must be switched off during lessons.
Bans might seem harsh, but they are designed to ensure that time meant for study is not snatched away by focus on phones.
Of course, mobile phones can also be useful for acquiring knowledge, but their immense power to distract schoolchildren from their study has to be curbed somehow.
Self-discipline is a key life skill that must be cultivated if students are to lead balanced lives. If a student uses one hand for their mobile phone, they should reckon the other hand is for holding a book.
Sutipunt Bongsununt