A rare cross-party initiative in the National Assembly, the special commission on the impacts of screens and social networks launched its work on Thursday, driven by the “urgency” of reaching an agreement to better regulate the use of new technologies among young people… while raising awareness among their parents.
“I think the consensus is that there is an urgent need to do something, to look into it. On this, visibly, the political class is united, on this reading, to do something. But what exactly? That is what we will have to find,” said Solidarity MP Alexandre Leduc on Thursday.
“Since 1984, there have not been many special commissions. […] “Across all parties, we all agree that we have a societal problem and that we need to have a collective awareness,” also declared CAQ member Amélie Dionne, who chairs the commission.
Besides Mme Dionne and Mr. Leduc, MPs Enrico Ciconne of the Liberal Party and Pascal Bérubé of the Parti Québécois, sit on the commission. The MPs are to publish their recommendations in May. In the meantime, they will meet with nearly forty stakeholders, in addition to touring schools in Quebec. They have not yet revealed the budget allocated to their commission.
For parents, for children
The deputies stressed the importance of focusing on good practices, but also on adults, who set an example for the little ones. “The debate must take place with parents and children,” stressed Mr.me Dionne. His colleague Leduc recalled that “parents look at the phone a lot too.” “Sometimes, the mirror effect can be quite confronting. […] “We will also have to question the exemplary nature of parents,” he said.
At the start of the work, the elected officials are giving themselves the opportunity to reflect on the content to which young people have access and to consider the question of a digital majority – a minimum age to have access to certain content.
“We are not ruling anything out at all. We are going to hear from experts on the subject,” said Mr.me Dionne. Mr. Ciccone also noted his intention to “leave no stone unturned.” Mr. Bérubé also recalled that elected officials will make an inventory of practices adopted internationally.
Above all, the deputies showed themselves to be in agreement to find lasting and consensual solutions. “I feel it, the urgency. But at the same time, I [vois] the importance of taking some time to build consensus. […] “If we want to find lasting solutions that have the support of the political class and the support of the population – particularly young people to whom it will apply – we need to have a societal consensus,” said Alexandre Leduc.