- 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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What are the implications of extending regulations on laptops and tablets in Venezuela’s educational system?
**Measure to Extend to Laptops and Tablets**
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced that a new measure will extend regulations not only to cell phones but also to laptops and tablets. This initiative is part of a coordinated effort with the Minister of Education, Héctor Rodríguez, focusing on the perceived harmful influence of electronic devices on the minds of children and young people. Maduro pointed out that this influence is a concern recognized globally.
He cited that 66% of Venezuelans believe cell phone usage should be restricted in schools, along with the use of social networks. Maduro emphasized the seriousness of this issue, citing worries about the negative impact these devices have on children and the considerable dependency on smartphones.
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**Regulation of Social Networks**
This initiative marks the first formal attempt by the Venezuelan government to regulate social networks within educational settings. In addition, there have been ongoing discussions among Venezuelan deputies about creating a law to govern the use of social networks, which highlights a broader context of governmental oversight.
In August 2024, Maduro criticized popular social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, labeling them as tools that spread negativity and hatred. Subsequently, the government ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) to block the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) in Venezuela, indicating a significant step in the government’s attempt to control the digital landscape.
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**Figures & Captions**
1. **Image of Nicolás Maduro**: EFE/ Henry Chirinos
2. **Image Related to Social Networks**: Photo by Unsplash
the government’s measures reflect a growing concern about the impact of digital devices on youth and a desire to implement stricter controls on social media platforms in the country.
