The CAQ youth commission is calling for the minimum age to have access to social networks to be set at 16 years in Quebec.
This proposal will be defended by the young CAQ members during the party’s National Council, which will be held in Saint-Hyacinthe on May 25.
Barely a few days ago, however, François Legault rejected and even ridiculed the idea of establishing a numerical majority, as suggested by his PQ rival Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
Young CAQ activists, however, want Quebec to be even stricter than France or even Florida, which will prohibit those under 14 from opening an account on a social network.
In an open letter, the president of the CAQ Succession Commission believes that her generation served as a “guinea pig” for Meta, while the consequences of these platforms on development and mental health were unknown. “Now that a collective awakening is beginning on this issue, our generation must have its say,” argues Aurélie Diep, in her missive.
She points out that the addictive effects of social media are now well documented, but that previous generations can “difficultly grasp” the reality of today’s young people.
“We sleep less well, we see our friends less in person, our attention span declines in class, and some of us develop a real addiction to these platforms often designed to make us addicted. It is time that we start treating social media for what they are: addictive products, just like alcohol, cannabis and games of chance,” she insists.
As recommended by Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, young CAQ members believe that children must also be protected from online pornography. Adult content websites should therefore be required to verify the age of the person who wants to access them.
No Tik Tok at school
Teaching student, Aurélie Diep says she sees the consequences of social media on primary school students. “We cannot sit idly by,” she adds. The young CAQ members believe that children and adolescents should not be able to take refuge on TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat during breaks or lunchtime. This is what the Parti Québécois is calling for. Since January, smartphones have been banned in classes, but not in common areas.
According to them, it is therefore necessary to “regulate the use and daily usage time of screens in schools so that it is strictly educational in nature”. A “first step” to promote the educational success of students.
Integrating AI into the public service
According to the CAQ youth commission, the government must integrate AI into the public service in order to increase its performance.
“The automation of certain processes in the public service constitutes a project for the future so that Quebecers get more for their money, and so that state employees can relieve themselves of simple and repetitive tasks to devote themselves to tasks more complex, which require human intelligence,” we argue in the proposal booklet.
AI should also be used to reduce delays and the administrative burden on businesses and citizens in their interactions with the state.
Examples of proposals from the Commission de la Relève to be included in the CAQ program
- The establishment of a digital majority at 16 years old for opening an account on social networks, as well as rigorous verification to access sites reserved for adults.
- Supervise the use and daily usage time of screens in schools so that it is strictly educational in nature.
- Implement measures to protect the right to image, privacy and reputation of minors online in Quebec
- That the government of Quebec accentuate its shift towards automation by integrating AI for a more efficient public administration and the implementation of its digital transformation.
- Employ AI to reduce administrative delays and burden on businesses and citizens in their interactions with the state.
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