Sheinbaum signs decree blocking violent and hostile content from minors’ social media feeds: Wednesday’s mañanera recapped

President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree on Wednesday aimed at restricting violent and harmful content on social media platforms for minors. The decree mandates platforms to block or refrain from recommending content that promotes hate speech, violent extremism, self-harm, eating disorders, cyberbullying, or illegal activities.

Users must be verified for their age, content classified by age appropriateness, and parental supervision tools must be offered. This measure follows a fatal machete attack at a school in Torreon, Coahuila, allegedly spurred by exposure to violent online content.

Sheinbaum also ordered the National Human Rights Commission to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of police torture in Guadalajara during a protest against contaminated water on Sunday. A woman claimed she was beaten and stepped on by police during the protest, causing fractures. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus said all 39 detained protesters were released and accused the police of excessive force and unjust arrests, calling for a serious investigation into the incidents.

The decree will require digital platforms to detect and remove immediately any accounts and content that encourage violent conduct, and will be published in the government's official gazette within a month. Social media companies have agreed to comply, but the government warns that sanctions may be imposed if measures are not effective.