Day 685 — SEP Announces 200,000+ New High School Spots as Government Weighs Youth Social Media Rules

On August 17, 2026 (Day 685, Monday), Education Secretary Mario Delgado announced SEP plans to create more than 200,000 additional preparatoria (high school) spots nationwide, using expanded hybrid classes and Saturday sessions to reach rural communities and relieve overcrowded schools; Undersecretary Tania Rodríguez Mora said the expansion drive covers new and expanded campuses nationally. At the same conference, the government said it is seeking consensus — not blanket bans — on regulating youth social media use: psychologist Ravi Iyer presented U.S. research showing teens spend 5-9 hours daily on phones and that some report unsolicited sexual contact on platforms like Meta's, and Delgado announced an August 24-25 national dialogue with more than one million teachers on classroom device policy. Sheinbaum said: 'La protección de las niñas, niños y adolescentes es lo que tenemos que garantizar.'