Series: For the lesson for the future

Aziz Rabah

Protecting childhood, youth, and the family is one of the most serious challenges facing societies in the digital age, where the smartphone has transformed from a useful tool into a source of distraction and loss, and even into a real danger threatening the psychological and moral balance of the rising generations.

In this context, the state of California has decided to ban school students from using smartphones starting from 2026. This firm decision aims to reduce distraction and enhance students' concentration, which positively reflects on academic achievement and mental health.

Thus, it has joined many countries across the five continents that seek to protect the rising generation from the destructive effects of smartphones on minds, souls, and morals. Some of these countries have gone further and are more liberal, strictly regulating the use of smart applications, digital games, and social media by children and adolescents, while encouraging investment in beneficial and purposeful applications and games.

Our country, in turn, is witnessing a gradual and steady campaign against triviality and trivial people in the media and digital social platforms, through the implementation of approved legislations and the judiciary doing what is necessary to protect our civilizational, religious, and moral heritage, as well as protecting the family and youth, which are the two greatest treasures owned by the kingdom.

This path will be stronger and more beneficial by tightening control over the use of digital technology by children and adolescents in general, and digital sites in particular. At the same time, investment should be encouraged in producing Moroccan digital applications that are educational, informative, and entertaining with a purpose, in addition to investing in training and animation projects directed at childhood and youth.