Mexico has introduced a nationwide ban on mobile phones in elementary and middle schools, but the move is facing resistance from parents who fear losing contact with their children amid ongoing violence in parts of the country.
The regulation, which takes effect on November 3, is part of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to reduce children’s and teenagers’ exposure to electronic devices.
The initiative has received support from experts who believe limiting screen time could help address attention problems, stress and anxiety among young people.
However, some parents are concerned that the restrictions could leave their children without a vital means of communication during emergencies, particularly in areas affected by organised crime.
According to the civil society coalition Network for Children’s Rights in Mexico (REDIM), one in 10 Mexicans aged between zero and 17 was a victim of a crime involving organised crime during the first half of this year.
Francisco Ortiz, a state representative of the National Union of Parents in Sinaloa, said many parents would struggle to accept a rule preventing their children from having access to digital communication.
He accused the government of overlooking parents’ concerns and introducing regulations that undermine parental authority and their rights.
Under Sheinbaum’s decree, students are prohibited from using mobile phones and other electronic devices inside elementary and middle schools throughout the school day.
Exceptions are allowed when devices are required for educational activities under teachers’ supervision, as well as for personal emergencies, disabilities and medical needs. Students are still permitted to carry their phones while travelling to and from school.
Benigno Gómez, a father from Reynosa in the northern state of Tamaulipas, said he understood the authorities’ intention to reduce students’ screen time but found it difficult to accept that children could not keep their phones with them in case of danger.
Parents Fear For Children’s Safety Amid Rising Violence
Concerns over the ban have been particularly strong in areas where violence has affected everyday life.
One incident in Escuinapa, southern Sinaloa, highlighted why some parents believe mobile phones are essential for their children’s safety.
On the morning of October 22, residents were alarmed after a motorcycle-riding gunman opened fire on a bus regularly used by students in the small town, which depends heavily on mango and shrimp production.
More than a dozen high school students were on board when the attack happened.
A video recorded by one of the passengers later circulated on social media, showing students taking cover on the floor and hiding between seats. At one point, a teenager could be heard asking another whether they had mobile phone credit.
Only the bus driver was injured, suffering cuts from shattered glass.
One mother, whose identity was withheld for safety reasons, said she immediately called her teenage daughter after hearing about the shooting. Her daughter had left early for school in a car driven by her aunt.
“Just hearing my daughter’s voice and knowing she was OK calmed me down,” she said.
The mother admitted she had no hesitation in interrupting her daughter’s class to check on her safety.
She questioned whether parents would comply with the new restrictions, fearing that violence could eventually reach schools in Escuinapa.
“The safety of our children comes first,” she said.
Experts Back Restrictions To Protect Children
Despite the concerns, supporters believe the regulation is an important step towards protecting young people from excessive technology use.
Israel Sánchez, president of the National Union of Parents, described the government’s decision as progress following years of efforts by the civil society organisation, which represents hundreds of parents from public and private schools, mostly Catholic institutions.
However, he stressed that authorities must launch awareness campaigns for parents and provide proper training for teachers to ensure the restrictions are implemented effectively.
Dr Lucía Magis-Weinberg, a neurodevelopment researcher at the University of Washington who has studied technology’s effects on children and teenagers, said Mexico was joining an international movement to regulate mobile phone use at an appropriate time.
While acknowledging that technology offers benefits in communication and access to information, she warned that it could also have harmful consequences.
She said regulations were necessary to prevent cognitive harm, digital conflicts and exposure to online platforms designed to maximise users’ attention.
Mexico is also preparing to introduce regulations this month requiring digital platforms to remove content involving hate speech, abuse, sexual violence, harassment, cyberbullying and other illegal material.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the Sheinbaum administration wanted to “prevent addiction to digital platforms and the disorders they cause in minors”.
According to UNESCO data, 114 countries have already introduced mobile phone restrictions in schools.
In Europe, France extended its ban to secondary schools in August, while several Latin American countries, including Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Costa Rica, have also introduced restrictions.
In the United States, however, school mobile phone bans remain limited to certain states.
