- The measure also extends to other electronic equipment such as laptops and tablets | Photo: Jose Daniel Ramos @danielj2511
The government of Nicolás Maduro revealed that for this 2024-2025 school year it began to implement a pilot plan to regularize the use of cell phones in public schools in Venezuela.
Maduro reported in his program With Maduro+, that this measure has already been implemented in 100 high schools and schools. He added that the plan is going “very well.”
However, he did not offer details on how they are implementing this plan in schools or if it involves an outright ban on the teams.
“School attention and the production of knowledge and capabilities have increased. Sociability and exchange between boys and girls have increased, the anxiety of the anxious generation and violence have decreased,” he stated in the program broadcast on Monday, November 11.
A measure that extends to laptops and tablets
The measure will not only target cell phones, but also laptops and tablets. Maduro announced that this plan is coordinated with the Minister of Education, Héctor Rodríguez.
“The issue of the harmful influence on the minds of children and young people that these electronic devices have. It is already a global issue,” he confirmed.
Likewise, he assured that 66% of Venezuelans believe that the use of cell phones should not be allowed in schools and neither should social networks.
“It is an important issue, the concerns are seeing children and the influence they are receiving (…) The influence on social networks is very strong because there is a lot of dependence on the telephone,” he added.
Regularization of social networks
Although this is the first time that the government has established a plan to regularize social networks in schools, they have already made reference to this measure in general.
In August 2024, a group of deputies from Venezuela announced that they were working on a law to regulate social networks.
The measure took place after Nicolás Maduro pointed out the American WhatsApp and Instagram and the Chinese TikTok as instruments “multipliers of hatred and fascism.”
Since August 8, the government of Nicolás Maduro ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) block X in Venezuela.
“X leave Venezuela for 10 days, so that they can present requests and establish the final administrative measure, but enough is enough, enough is enough of trying to sow violence, hatred, of trying to attack Venezuela from the outside,” he asserted. However, three months later, users on the social network detail that they must activate a VPN to be able to enter.
After the July 28 elections, Nicolás Maduro accused the South African businessman who owns X, Elon Musk, of being involved in a “cyber coup” against him.
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How do the government’s restrictions on social media platforms relate to concerns about youth development and societal communication in Venezuela?
The recent measures taken by Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela regarding the regulation of electronic devices in schools have stirred significant discussion. The new plan not only targets cell phones but also extends to laptops and tablets, reflecting concerns about the “harmful influence” these devices may have on children and young people’s mental health.
Maduro emphasized that 66% of Venezuelans support restrictions on cell phone usage in schools, citing a widespread belief that excessive use of these devices and social networks has severe negative effects on children. He articulated concerns about the reliance on social media platforms, referring to them as potentially detrimental to youth development.
In addition to banning certain electronic devices in educational settings, there are broader attempts to regulate social networks. This initiative follows past government pronouncements that critiqued platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, labeling them as potential sources of societal discord and oppression.
These regulatory measures are part of a growing trend in Venezuela, where government control over information and communication has heightened, prompting discussions about censorship and freedom of expression. The government’s move to block specific social media platforms has drawn criticism and raises questions about the balance between protecting youth and imposing restrictions on digital communication.
As these developments unfold, the interplay between technology, education, and governance in Venezuela continues to evolve, suggesting a complex landscape for both policymakers and citizens.
