Montreal school teaching young students about online safety, screen time addiction

A Montreal school is working to educate children about online safety and addiction by starting them early.

At East Hill Elementary School in Riviere-des-Prairies, Grade 5 students in the media lab are taught to think before posting online and design and code their own video games meant to quiz third graders about online safety.

"We're asking questions like if somebody asks you for like phone number or for your address, will you answer them," said student Alissa Campapiano. "Like, will you send it to them or will you just keep it to yourself, leave the game, tell your parents about it."

Teacher Nadia Barrafato said it's a fun and engaging way to teach an extremely important subject.

"I think it's important for students to have these discussions at a young age," said Barrafato. "I think it's important for these discussions to take place at home and at school. The way you wouldn't necessarily give, a person that doesn't have a license, the keys to a car. Well, when it comes to digital citizenship, when it comes to online safety, when it comes to cell phone use and technology in general, it's very important that we have discussions with our students."

Barrafato has been teaching media for nearly 20 years, and as technologies change, so do the conversations about the risks.

Currently, she said she spends a lot of time talking about screen time and addiction.

"Asking questions like how often am I online? How do I feel about afterwards is very important," she said.

The message seems to be getting through.

"You have to have a boundary like you can always be on your electronics," said student Sofia Brisebois. "Some people get too addicted and they are always on. It is not good for you. It hurts your head in your eyes."

There is a lot of concern about the impact screen time and social media use are having on young people.

At East Hill, the strategy is to address it head-on and early to give students the tools they need to safely navigate the online world.