Mexico Restricts Personal Devices in Schools Nationwide

Mexico’s education authorities announced a country-wide restriction on personal electronic devices in schools. The measure, agreed upon by state education officials without requiring congressional approval, will apply to elementary and middle schools throughout the school day, including recess and breaks. High schools and universities are also asked to limit device use, though they retain more flexibility in how they enforce the rules. The policy is slated to take effect in November.

New York Times

Under the new guidelines, students may not use cellphones, smartwatches, or other personal screens during class time. The restriction extends to all periods of the school day, and schools are tasked with monitoring compliance. While secondary and higher-education institutions must curb usage, they may devise their own specific approaches rather than following a uniform rule.

New York Times

President Claudia Sheinbaum framed the ban as a means to “recover creativity” and mitigate the negative impacts of indiscriminate screen use, especially when linked to social media. She emphasized that the policy does not dismiss the educational value of artificial intelligence or screens, but seeks to limit their presence in classroom settings.

New York Times

The decision arrives amid a global conversation about balancing technology’s benefits against concerns over social-media addiction and excessive screen time among youth. Recent high-profile settlements, such as Meta’s $17 billion agreement with U.S. states over alleged addictive design practices, have heightened scrutiny of digital platforms in educational environments. Parents and educators worldwide are watching Mexico’s approach as a potential model for managing device use in schools.

New York Times

• “The goal is to recover creativity and avoid this indiscriminate use of screens that, especially when linked to social media, can have negative impacts,” — President Claudia Sheinbaum

New York Times