Overview
- A federal restriction that forbids students from using cellphones and similar devices during school hours took effect nationwide on November 3.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum visited schools to explain the rule, and officials framed heavy screen use as addictive and harmful to students’ socioemotional health.
- Local school officials told parents in advance at some schools and said devices used in class will be confiscated and returned only at the end of the school year.
- The government launched a Jornada Nacional de Lectura to push reading and announced a December program to introduce traditional playground games as alternatives to screen time.
- Parents interviewed in several states generally welcomed the rule as a way to improve concentration, but practical questions about emergency access, consistent enforcement and wider public reaction remain unanswered.