A group of children reenacting scenes from the popular television reveal “Squid Game” alongside a classroom utilizing interactive learning tools illustrates a central tension in modern education: how to navigate the pervasive influence of technology. This contrast, observed by educators Dina Fajardo Tovar and Lupita Aguilar during a recent school visit, underscores the necessitate to move beyond simply *using* technology to cultivating “digital citizenship” – the ability to engage with the digital world safely, ethically, and responsibly.
The concept of digital citizenship has gained traction internationally, with UNESCO in 2024 and the Council of Europe in 2025 both emphasizing its importance. The Council of Europe designated 2025 as the “European Year of Digital Citizenship Education,” aiming to bolster these skills across the European Union. According to data from Mexico’s IFT & INEGI, 81.2% of children under six, 92.4% of teenagers aged 12-17, and 96.7% of young adults aged 18-24 are internet users. A NordVPN study from 2023 indicated that individuals in Mexico spend an average of nearly 89 hours online each week – almost four full days.
However, widespread access doesn’t equate to responsible usage. UNICEF data from 2024 reveals that 25% of adolescents in Mexico have experienced online harassment. Save the Children reported in 2024 that over half (51%) of Mexican youth struggle to identify false news. Exposure to hate speech, cyberbullying, and unrealistic social media comparisons is also impacting mental health, according to research cited by Ehmke (2024) and Haidt (2024). The SIPINNA reported in 2018 that sharing personal information online carries risks of fraud, identity theft, and unwanted contact.
A recent survey conducted by Kmbal A.C. Involving 265 educators and over 70 parents revealed a persistent sense of unpreparedness. Preliminary results indicate that perceptions haven’t significantly shifted in recent years. 32% of educators view internet use as inevitable, while 50% see it as necessary. However, a substantial 40.4% expressed fear, worry, or insecurity, and 28% consider it risky. Among parents, 63% believe technology use is inevitable, 39% see it as necessary, but a striking 60% reported feeling concern, fear, or insecurity, with 41% perceiving it as risky. 36% of parents observed restlessness in their children after device use, and 28% noted a negative impact on their behavior.
Despite these concerns, only 12% of educators and 28% of parents surveyed felt equipped to address digital risks with children. Common worries included excessive screen time, exposure to inappropriate content, difficulty discerning misinformation, cyberbullying, socio-emotional well-being, privacy concerns, and contact with strangers. This echoes findings from a 2018 report by Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education (SEP), which highlighted a lack of competencies in online safety, privacy protection, and information management among students, teachers, and parents.
Kmbal A.C. Is addressing this gap through its CiBi Digital program, which focuses on joint training for students, teachers, families, and school staff. The program emphasizes a shared understanding and collaborative strategies for navigating the digital landscape. The organization identifies six key areas of digital citizenship: contact and collaboration, creation of content, safety, digital rights, emotional intelligence, and information literacy. These areas are designed to be integrated across all digital interactions, from social media to artificial intelligence.
Dina Fajardo Tovar, Director of Kmbal A.C. And a specialist in integrating technology and pedagogy, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Offering training on ‘Citizenship and Well-being digital’ to the entire educational community is no longer optional: it is indispensable for technology to drive well-being and development, and not become a source of risks,” she stated. The organization’s work builds on frameworks established by researchers like Vuorikari et al. (2022) and James et al. (2021), adapting international best practices to the Mexican context.
