As South Africa debates tighter cellphone controls in schools, the bigger question is not only how much time children spend on their phones, but what they are doing with that time. Smartphones can distract learners, but they can also place curriculum-aligned lessons, practice activities and exam preparation in their hands. A Stellenbosch University study has found that teenagers spend an average of three hours and 17 minutes a day on their smartphones, while almost all take their devices to school. According to James Lees, CEO of Advantage Learn, the question is not simply whether to allow or ban devices, but how parents, schools and learners can use them for learning while protecting learners' focus, wellbeing and online safety. We spoke to James Lees, CEO of Advantage Learn