Play in Mexico has shifted from a formative, social activity to a solitary digital experience lacking adult supervision, according to a warning from the organization Educación con Rumbo.
This shift poses a growing risk to the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of children and adolescents in the country, reported eluniversal.com.mx.
Recent data indicates that more than half of the child population plays video games for at least two hours every day. Furthermore, nearly seven out of ten minors play with little to no adult supervision.
This phenomenon is unfolding in a landscape of high connectivity. According to the 2023 National Survey on the Availability and Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Households, over 70% of the population aged six and older uses the internet in Mexico.
In the 18 to 24 age demographic, internet usage exceeds 90%.
Risks to health and digital safety
The video game industry has seen significant growth in the country. According to the former Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT), as of 2024, there are 6.8 million gamers aged six and older, establishing children as the primary consumer segment.
Paulina Amozurrutia, general coordinator of Educación con Rumbo, noted that the issue does not lie with the technology itself, but rather with the lack of updated educational policies.
“Mexico's basic education system is not responding with the urgency or depth required by the digital environment,” the specialist emphasized.
While video games can help strengthen problem-solving skills and critical thinking, excessive consumption is linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized gaming disorder as a mental health condition since 2019.
The digital environment also exposes minors to risks such as grooming. According to Inegi, this practice affects 21% of individuals aged 12 and older, which translates to 18.9 million users.
The organization denounced an institutional failure to address a digital landscape that is advancing faster than public policy. While UNESCO (2025) reports that nearly 40% of international education systems have already implemented restrictions on cell phone use in classrooms, Mexico continues to face a void in regulation and teacher training.
This scenario is impacting basic education, where teachers are facing students with shorter attention spans and higher levels of anxiety, without sufficient curricular tools to address these issues.
Educación con Rumbo stressed the urgent need to establish a national digital education policy with clear guidelines, strengthen the shared responsibility between schools and families, and incorporate critical digital competencies into school curricula.
