Mexico restricts cellphone use in primary and secondary schools

Mexico City, Mexico. Mexico has introduced nationwide restrictions on cellphone and tablet use from bell to bell in public primary and secondary schools, effective November 3, amid concerns about the effects of screen time on children.

Nationwide measure

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that state education officials had reached a consensus on the measure, which applies across the public education system.

The restrictions place Mexico among countries seeking clearer limits on children’s access to cellphones and social media as governments debate technology use in schools and online.

Rules for older students

Sheinbaum said high schools would establish their own limits to ensure devices are used safely and responsibly for educational purposes.

Universities will be encouraged to promote responsible use for “digital citizenship grounded in ethics and critical thinking,” she said.

“This agreement is a fundamental step toward safeguarding the rights of children, adolescents and young people by promoting their mental health, learning and overall development, while strengthening attention, human interaction and community,” Education Minister Mario Delgado said.

International context

Australia last year became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, with several other countries following in 2026.

Meta Platforms agreed in August to pay up to $18 billion over the next decade and impose strict limits on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram to resolve claims that it designed the platforms to addict children.