Putting an end to self-regulation by the Web giants
Screens occupy an important place in our society, and have become an integral part of our daily lives. Their omnipresence in many spheres of life has a major impact on our habits.
In addition to contributing to a sedentary lifestyle, excessive screen use can lead to mental health problems, sleep disorders, eye, musculoskeletal and cognitive problems, as well as chronic illnesses1,2,3.
Based on a concertation with several organizations and specialists lead in collaboration with Capsana, the Collectif Vital has identified promising interventions to be implemented in Quebec to promote balanced use of screens and better protect young people online. Eight interventions were prioritized according to their level of importance and feasibility.
The key elements of each of these interventions have been summarized in the following fact sheets:
Sensibiliser les jeunes aux impacts du temps d’écran;
Documenter l’usage des écrans à l’école;
Réglementer la monétisation dans les jeux vidéo;
Afficher des messages de prévention sur les réseaux sociaux;
Faciliter la compréhension des paramètres et conditions d’utilisation des plateformes en ligne;
Encadrer le marketing d’influence en ligne;
Définir un statut de « signaleurs de confiance » et exiger une analyse prioritaire de leurs signalements;
Promouvoir des ressources d’éducation sexuelle et affective adaptées et accessibles aux jeunes.
Consult the sheets
After several months of work and consultation, the Special Commission on the Impact of Screens and Social Networks on the Health and Development of Young People has published its final report, containing 56 recommendations.
The Collectif Vital and Capsana, supported by a number of organizations and specialists, welcome this process, and are pleased to note that several recommendations focus on raising young people's awareness of the need to develop a more balanced relationship with screens, while stressing the importance of regulating the practices of the Web giants.
What's next? The work must go on! Collectif Vital will remain vigilant to ensure that the commission's recommendations are actually implemented by the Quebec government.
Promoting balanced use of screens.
En apprendre plus
Favoriser les déplacements et les loisirs actifs au quotidien.
Encourager la pratique d'activités physiques des familles.
Favoriser l'activité physique à l'école.
1. Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec. (2020). L'utilisation des écrans en contexte de pandémie de COVID19, quelques pistes d'encadrement. Gouvernement du Québec, Québec.
2. Aishworiya, J. SH Kiing, Y. Huak Chan, S. SW Tung et E. Law, «Screen time exposure and sleep among children with developmental disabilities,». Journal of paediatrics and child health, vol. 54, pp. 889-894, 2018.
3. S. Domingues-Montanari, «Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children,». Journal of PAediatrics and Child Health, vol. 53, pp. 333-338, 2016.
