The work of the Special Commission on the Impacts of Screens and Social Networks on the Health and Development of Young People (CSESJ) began on Thursday in Quebec.
Members of this committee will hear from around 40 experts between now and Sept.26.
They come from the fields of education, health and social services, public security, law, and digital technology.
Some of the topics they will discuss include the amount of time young people spend on screens, supervision measures at school and on the web, access to social networks, including through video games and cyberbullying.
Additionally, topics about sharing sexually explicit material, access to pornography on the web, mechanisms at creating addiction and advertising aimed at children on platforms and applications will be discussed.
Quebec Premier François Legault proposed the commission last May, while under pressure from younger CAQ members who wanted to set the minimum age at 16 to access social networks and limit screen time at school.
Further research shows that screen time among younger users can cause harmful and negative consequences on their health.
According to U.S. Chief Medical Officer Vivek Murthy, social media is “driving a national crisis in youth mental health.”
The special commission must submit its report by May 30, 2025.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews