Mexico classrooms to go phone-free under new rules
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Mexico announced nationwide regulations on Tuesday limiting mobile phone and tablet use in primary and secondary schools for younger students from the start of the school day to the end, amid mounting worries about the impact of screen time on children. The measure, set to commence on November 3, applies across the entire public education system.
President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed on Monday that state education officials had reached an agreement on the matter. She indicated that high schools would establish their own guidelines to ensure devices are employed safely and responsibly for educational purposes, while universities would be encouraged to promote responsible usage for digital citizenship rooted in ethics and critical thinking.
Education Minister Mario Delgado emphasized that this agreement represents a crucial step in protecting the rights of children, adolescents, and young people by fostering their mental health, learning, and overall development, while enhancing focus, human interaction, and community. Australia became the first nation last year to prohibit social media for children under 16, with numerous other countries adopting similar policies this year.
Meta Platforms recently agreed to pay up to $18 billion and institute stringent restrictions on teenagers' use of Facebook and Instagram to settle claims that the company designed the platforms to addict children.
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