Many Chinese schools are now assigning homework on smartphone apps, but it's also raising concerns about students' health and internet addiction. Regulators are considering limiting the use of electronic devices for education. Lin Nan has more from Shanghai.

School is over. But for 7-year-old Ma Jingqi, who lives in Shanghai, it is not the end of a day's study. He only has a little while to play when he goes home.

"Have you played enough? It is time for homework. Pack your toys. You have a lesson at 7:30 tonight. Don't forget about it. Put in inside the box."

As a first grader, he already spends about 2 hours on homework a day, which involves half an hour of using related apps on an iPad.

MA JINGQI FIRST GRADER IN SHANGHAI "I use one app for Chinese and maths, another app for English. Most of it is listening and repeating."

In recent years, some Chinese schools have been assigning homework through messaging apps like WeChat. Ma Jingqi's mother has installed several study apps on her phone. When the boy finishes his homework, they can grade it automatically, showing her the results right away.

HUANG YAN MA JINGQI'S MOTHER "Using homework apps lets me know my kid's learning progress and pace, and it's convenient for me to help him with his homework. I need to get involved in his growth."

But not every parent is buying into this trend of e-learning.

LIN NAN SHANGHAI "While technology has brought people convenience and efficiency, it's also led to plenty of controversy."

"Its disadvantage is the effect on the eyesight, although it is much easier to do homework on the phone than bringing piles of homework when traveling."

"Using mobile devices for a long time will certainly affect children's eyesight."

"He became too lazy to think on his own."

"I am worried that my kid will rely on the phone too much, checking everything on it instead of thinking independently."

The Ministry of Education issued a guideline last year, calling for reduced use of electronic devices when assigning homework, over concerns of eyesight damage. The eastern province of Zhejiang released a draft regulation in February, planning to ban app-based homework. But many say, it would be impossible and unwise to reject new technology from schools in the Internet era. To use, or not to use, or how to use it wisely remains as a question for regulators, educators and parents. Lin Nan, CGTN, Shanghai.