The head of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), Mario Delgado, revealed in a recent interview with an international media outlet that Mexico is already considering a debate on regulating cell phone use in schools.
The discussion is being initiated in Mexico due to the “serious risks” that technology poses to the mental health of young people, in a context where 79 countries have already taken some form of action in this regard.
“There is growing evidence, not only in Mexico but also in many other countries, that the use of technology is affecting the behavior of young people in some way […] We cannot simply stand idly by and then see the consequences,” Delgado emphasized.
The head of the SEP warned of the “significant risks” associated with social media and artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the goal is to achieve a “responsible, conscious, and critical” digital culture.
Without endorsing a specific model, Delgado noted that some countries have already approved measures in this area, arguing that Mexico should follow suit.
He cited the Australian government’s ban on social media accounts for minors under 16 and the ongoing debate in Spain about whether or not cell phones should be allowed in schools.
“There are many examples of regulation around the world. So, first, we want to open this national debate and see the conclusions, what they lead us to, what is best […] What is certain is that there is increasing evidence that indiscriminate use, giving children cell phones at a young age, exposes them to significant risks, including many problems with depression,” Delgado added.
Therefore, he is confident that the debate will yield “clear conclusions” that will serve to “protect our children and youth.”
“That’s precisely why we want to open the debate. We don’t subscribe to a prohibitionist view, so let’s see what emerges from this discussion, what measures could be implemented […] Let’s leave this discussion open, and in the end, we will make our position based on what is best for everyone,” he stated.
One of his main concerns is that minors are “completely unprotected” in the social media ecosystem, since if they have a mobile phone, “we are exposing them to risks we haven’t even imagined or calculated,” he warned.
The Secretary of Education sees, in this context of a “great explosion” in the use of AI, a direct relationship between technology and mental health, and pointed out that many young people turn to it as an “emotional advisor,” asking for “guidance on some kind of emotion, feelings, or on problems of anxiety and loneliness.”
Regarding social media, Delgado directly addressed the companies that manage them, requesting that they be “co-responsible” for the protection of young people.
“Their interest in generating economic resources should not prevail,” Delgado said.
Source: informador
