Digital screen use impacts student concentration and academic performance

Educators are warning that excessive screen use and constant digital stimuli are negatively impacting the concentration, social interaction, and academic performance of children and adolescents.

In Mexico, primary education specialist Sandra Ortega Rivero noted during a conference with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo that students often arrive at school tired and exhibit low tolerance for activities that do not provide immediate gratification. She emphasized that the issue is not the technology itself, but the lack of regulation, supervision, and pedagogical purpose. Without guidance, digital consumption can displace attention from real-world surroundings and interpersonal communication.

To combat these challenges, schools are being encouraged to act as trainers for attention. Rather than strictly prohibiting devices, experts suggest implementing strategies such as setting clear times for connectivity, practicing brief moments of silence, and teaching self-regulation. By using structured routines and single-task assignments, educators aim to help students recognize distractions and manage their digital energy more consciously.