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The government wants to curb social media distractions and improve children’s focus in school, and Mexico will be prohibiting cell phone use in elementary and secondary schools starting November.
Under the new rule, students will not be allowed to use mobile phones during classes or recess. Exceptions will be made for emergencies and planned school events.
The measure is intended to help children regain their creativity and to mitigate concerns about excessive phone and social media use, said President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The restriction will not be in effect for students in their last three years before college or for university students.
The policy was based on discussions with teachers and experts on the impact of overuse of social media on children and youth, the Education Ministry said. The ministry said 81 per cent of teachers who were surveyed agreed to limit cell phone use in schools.
Mexico is one of the many countries that have implemented measures to limit children’s phone use in school.
France has a limit on phone use for students until around the age of 15 in school, including during breaks, and New Zealand has individual school policies. In Peru, there are also restrictions on phone usage during school hours.
The measures are in response to the increasing international awareness of the negative impact of excessive screen time on children’s concentration, mental health, social interactions and school performance.
