This week concluded the National Assembly’s special committee hearings on screen impact on youth, highlighting concerns from various stakeholders. Advocates, including medical professionals, called for a complete ban on cell phones in schools to enhance safety and foster face-to-face interactions. Alloprof promoted a distinction between recreational and educational screen use. Emphasis was placed on parental involvement in managing screen time, with suggestions for awareness campaigns. Additionally, calls for stronger regulations on content access for minors were made, emphasizing the need for parental consent.
Conclusion of the Special Committee Hearings on Screen Impact
This week marked the conclusion of the second and final round of hearings conducted by the National Assembly’s special committee focused on the effects of screens on young individuals. Various stakeholders raised their concerns and put forth potential solutions, which have been summarized for further consideration. The upcoming report from elected officials, scheduled for release at the end of May, will reveal which recommendations they choose to prioritize.
Calls for a Total Cell Phone Ban in Schools
A significant number of advocates, including the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec, have urged for an outright ban on cell phones throughout the school day. The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) has identified this as a leading solution to safeguard youth. Sergeant Detective Maya Alieh from the SPVM emphasized, “The most criminal activities involving technology occur during school hours, not in the evening.” She noted that many incidents of bullying, extortion, and the sharing of inappropriate materials often begin during school hours following conflicts among students.
Pediatrician Jean-François Chicoine echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of enabling young people to engage in face-to-face interactions during their free time at school to foster empathy and mitigate violence.
Balancing Screen Use in Educational Settings
The organization Alloprof has advocated for a clear distinction between recreational screen time, such as playing online games or watching TikTok videos during breaks, and educational screen use, like engaging in interactive exercises during lessons. They argue that interactive educational tools enhance learning by encouraging critical thinking and promoting student independence. The organization cautioned against implementing a blanket ban on all screen usage in schools.
Currently, 99% of the services provided by Alloprof are accessed through screens, with a significant portion utilized during class hours, often facilitated by educators themselves. Patrick Giroux, a professor of educational technology at the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi, pointed out that the real issue with screen usage lies outside the classroom. “Screen time at school is increasingly well-managed; our focus should be on providing parents with the support they need,” he asserted.
The Role of Parents in Managing Screen Time
Many stakeholders have emphasized the necessity for parents to become better informed and equipped to oversee their children’s technology use. The SPVM noted that some parents are completely unaware that their 7 or 9-year-olds have social media accounts or have allowed their children to use these platforms without any oversight. Audrey-Ann Deneault, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Montreal, added that parents should critically evaluate their own screen habits at home and serve as role models. “Many parents underestimate how their own screen time can affect their children’s well-being,” she remarked.
Deneault proposed launching a widespread awareness campaign featuring slogans like “Memories are created with eyes up” or “Notifications can wait, but childhood cannot.” These initiatives could help parents understand the importance of modeling healthy screen behavior.
Implementing Control Measures for Minors
Several stakeholders have called for enhanced control measures to limit the content accessible to minors, highlighting the challenges of establishing regulations in the digital landscape. Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, suggested that age verification for adult content should be implemented through the operating systems of devices, such as Windows, rather than relying solely on website controls.
In a brief submitted earlier this month, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, expressed support for legislative measures requiring parental consent for app downloads for users under 16. This would empower parents to make informed decisions about the applications their children can access.