It’s been just over a year since the Alberta government banned cellphones and social media use during school, and some advocates are taking its success as a step in the right direction for keeping kids aware of online literacy. September also marks the anniversary of Unplugged Canada, a growing group in Alberta advocating for parents to avoid giving their young children smartphones before the age of 14. “I look at it as mostly a mental health initiative,” said Unplugged Alberta chapter Ambassador Kirsten Sweet. “We’re learning recently, with a lot of new information and data coming out, that we’re seeing huge increases in depression, anxiety, self-harm in our youth, and it’s raising a lot of concern.” In signing the group’s pledge, parents of young children commit to delaying smartphone access until their kid is at least 14 years old. A basic phone is still permissible for calls and texts in case of emergencies. “We want kids learning how to use technology responsibly at age-appropriate times. So it’s not about no tech, it’s about the right tech at the right time,” she explained. Unplugged Canada is currently in the process of petitioning across the country for a graduated approach to introducing all the “bells and whistles” of a smartphone into a kid’s life – similar to driver’s licenses. B.C. Liberal MP Patrick Weiler has fully backed the petition, which calls for the federal government to raise the minimum age for social media to 16 and privacy rights for youth under 18 so that companies aren’t able to share their data. “No one wants to see young people struggle in silence because of pressures amplified online,” said a statement from Weiler to CTV News Edmonton on Thursday. “Protecting the well-being of young people must be a national priority.” He also cited other areas of the world, like Australia and parts of Europe, already taking action to raise the minimum age of access to social media, requiring strong age verification for explicit content and expanding public education on digital addiction. ‘It feels like you’ve got to have it’ Weiler’s statement noted that Unplugged Canada’s petition is about striking the right balance between the benefits of technology while keeping people aware of its detrimental effects. Sweet, who has young kids herself, says children and teenagers need to be part of the conversation, because after all, it’s their lives. “It’s almost like a drug, with the dopamine,” Caleb, a teenager who said he consumes short-form content often, told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday. His friend, Brylan, agreed. “I don’t love social media, but to be a part of society, it feels like you’ve got to have it,” he added. Sweet said research increasingly shows that many apps on smartphones are designed to engage the user and keep them on as long as possible. “I don’t think kids want to be manipulated like that,” she said. Sydney Menard and Francis Xavier, also teenagers, told CTV News Edmonton the petition felt reasonable, although there was a give and take between using social media as a tool and letting it control your life. “If my parents had decided that I’m not allowed to have a phone until 14, that’s their decision, I’m their kid and I’m not going to tell them otherwise,” Menard said. Ali, who was out shopping with her toddler, told CTV News Edmonton she wants to wait as long as she can before allowing access to social media. “I know how I feel after being on my phone, and I don’t like it, so I can’t imagine giving it to my kid,” she added. The Unplugged Canada pledge has received 3,883 pledges to date between 700 schools, 10 provinces and one territory. Sweet emphasized that children using social media was not an isolated concern – self-regulation during screen time is something everyone should be aware and capable of. “There really is this power imbalance between big tech and young minds,” she said. “That’s something we want to have a conversation about.”
