Like it or not, Quebec's school cellphone ban is here. Experts share tips on how to adapt

How to pilot quebec city’s schooltime cellphone censor — and its hidden challenges

It's back to school season, and students in Quebec are gathering their backpacks, notebooks, pencils and books. But they are forced to leave behind one notable item this year: their cellphones.

After a year of cellphones being forbidden in classrooms, the Quebec government decided to take it one step further by banning them during breaks and lunchtime, too. It's a recommendation that came from a special committee tasked with studying the effects of screen time on young people.

It's a big change for many students.

For Adyson Miniaci, the change is more annoying than stressful, especially since it'll likely be harder to snap photos and record videos with classmates during her final year of high school.

"It's my senior year and it'll be the first year that I won't be allowed to have it with me," she said.

"I'm somebody who's very interested in all of that — making video edits, taking many pictures — and the fact that I won't have it, it hurts."

The ban applies to both public and private schools at the elementary school and high school level.

Jacob Amnon Suissa, professor in the social work department at Université du Québec à Montréal and therapist specializing in addictions and cyberdependency, says it's normal for students to feel anxious or frustrated about this change, and that these feelings should be shared openly.

He says parents might deal with their kids lashing out for the first few weeks, but he advised them "not to take it personally, not to blame them." He said it's important to listen to their child's frustrations and validate them.

Students also need to keep an open mind during this transition, says Andréanne Gagné, professor in the department of teaching and learning studies at Université Laval.

"The idea is to create other reflexes than picking up your phone and looking at what you've missed in the past hour," she said. "Because honestly, most of the time what you've missed is not the end of the world, right?"

She also says parents anxious that they won't be able to reach their kids during the day should come up with a communication plan in advance, whether it's to call the school in case of emergencies or send a message that will be seen at the end of the school day.

Miniaci, the high school student, says she didn't use her phone at school to scroll on social media.

"I use it more as a tool," she said, listing examples like going through her calendar and using the Google Classroom app to communicate with teachers.

"So that's what's more bothersome than not having social media: not being able to communicate and not being able to look at my calendar and know what's next."

She did acknowledge, however, that many of her peers spent a lot of time scrolling on social media and will have a hard time adapting to the ban.

Gagné, the Université Laval professor, says the ban is an opportunity for students and parents to think critically about the use of screens in daily life and what value they bring.

"Talk to your child about what's the place of a cellphone in his life," she said, noting that parents should ask their children what they're going to do during breaks and lunchtime to make sure they are not isolated.

The extra time between classes can be put to good use, she said, either by developing new interests, acquiring new skills or making new friends.

Suissa, the UQAM professor, also says it's important to prioritize socialization during this time.

"Our brain thanks us every day [when we] have face-to-face social ties," he said. "The more you use the screen… the more lonely you are."

Suissa notes the use of screens correlates with worse mental health outcomes for younger generations. It will be a difficult adjustment, he says, but one worth making to improve focus, cognition and even self-esteem.

Parents should also be prepared for their children to ask for extra screen time at home, Gagné said. It's not something she recommends allowing, keeping in mind the intention of the ban.

"Screen time, especially social networks, do represent a risk for this vulnerable population that is children and teenagers. We as a society have the responsibility to protect our youth and [the ban] is one way of protecting it," she said.

"If we protect the child between 8 a.m. And 4 p.m., then between 4 p.m. And midnight, there's no more protection, it defeats the purpose of [the ban]."

When weighing whether or not to give children extra screen time at home, parents should consider their family dynamics and prioritize maintaining their "family rituals," like cooking or eating dinner together, says Suissa.

"Each family [will] have their own solutions because they know the children very well, much better than the therapists."

Miniaci says she'll try to see if teachers will be on board with her getting an old-school digital camera into the classroom, to make up for the phone ban.

"Those little pocket cameras, I was going to see if it slides with my teachers," she said.

"Hopefully, that maximizes our chances of getting the most pictures we can during our most memorable year."

Journalist

Charlotte Lepage is a journalist from Gatineau, Que. She'll cover just about anything but has a keen interest in technology, education and environmental stories. Reach out with feedback or ideas at charlotte.lepage@cbc.ca.

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