Presidential concern about screen time
President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her concern about the hours that girls, boys and adolescents spend watching videos instead of playing, studying or living together. In his morning conference, he asked to regulate the use of cell phones and artificial intelligence (AI) in Mexico, and urged to open the debate with parents and teachers.
“There is no artificial intelligence law and it is something that has to happen, that is, there has to be regulation. And we are also seeing the use of the screen, especially by girls and young people. Mexico has a very high number of hours that they watch on the screen and it has consequences on their health and socialization,” he noted.
Impact on health and proposals
Sheinbaum explained that excessive use of screens increases anxiety and affects children’s sleep. An official census revealed that more than 1.2 million university students and teachers use AI. “Excess screen use, in addition to the algorithms used on most platforms, does represent problems,” he said.
The president indicated that many parents support not using cell phones in primary schools. In several countries it is already considered problematic use. The Ministry of Health will create a song to encourage reading stories or other activities.
“These are essential issues in Mexico, that we enter into that discussion. And the mothers and fathers, the grandparents, the grandparents who are listening to us… I am sure they will agree with me… we have to make decisions together,” she stressed.
Sheinbaum avoided sending a ban bill, but insisted on opening the conversation. During his tours, he surveys students: 90% use TikTok one to four hours a day. “We have to go back to playing spring, matatena, marbles, airplane, rope. We have to recover traditional games that generate a different coexistence,” he concluded.
