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Montreal, January 27, 2020 – Thanks to the support of the Secrétariat à la jeunesse, the PAUSE campaign is back. Following an advertising initiative and activities organised in several school settings in November 2019, which appealed directly to young people, PAUSE is being reactivated to encourage Quebec parents to take action and find a better digital balance as a family. For the occasion, the Pauseyourscreen.com website is getting a new look and enhancing its content.

PAUSE: The reference for parents

According to a Léger survey¹ conducted in collaboration with the PAUSE team, more than 85% of Quebec parents are motivated to take action to prevent online activities from playing too big a role in the family. To help parents better come to terms with their connected reality, namely enjoying all the advantages of technology without dealing with the disadvantages, the Pauseyourscreen.com website has been updated and improved. It offers accessible quality content about hyperconnectivity, resources, tips and advice, in particular to help improve online habits. The site also features a fun quiz to help young people stop and think about their relationship with screens and challenges to regain control. Tips and inspiring testimonials as well as a blog that is updated throughout the year to shed light on various issues concerning the topic round out the ecosystem. With an ever-growing Facebook community, PAUSE has become the reference for parents on hyperconnectivity in Quebec.

“With the pervasiveness of technology in our everyday lives, a balanced use of the Internet and screens is essential to promote overall health. Since we know that adopting healthy habits begins first and foremost at home, it is important to inform and equip parents so they can put in place conditions that encourage good digital habits for the whole family and thus prevent the risks associated with hyperconnectivity,” shares Guy Desrosiers, Chief Executive Officer of Capsana, the organisation behind PAUSE.

The important role of parents

Screens offer many advantages that make our lives easier. However, when they are overused or misused, they can have the opposite effect and become detrimental to our well-being. “There are several negative effects that can be associated with the overuse of the Internet, physical as well as psychological, cognitive and social. And young people, who have less self-control and whose brains are still developing, are even more at risk. Parents have a key role to play in helping their kids better manage their screen time. Because they have a big influence on them, setting a good example is undoubtedly the most important thing they can do. Talking to their children about screens in an open and positive way, establishing clear rules for Internet use, and scheduling offline time as a family are other strategies to develop a balanced use of the Internet at home,” explains Magali Dufour, doctor of psychology as well as president of the PAUSE committee of experts.

About PAUSE

PAUSE promotes a balanced use of the Internet in order to prevent the risks associated with hyperconnectivity while still enjoying the benefits of technology. This campaign, developed for young adults, teens and their parents, is an initiative of Capsana made possible with the support of the Secrétariat à la jeunesse and the collaboration of a committee of experts and a support network. To find out more, visit Pauseyourscreen.com.

About Capsana

Capsana is a social enterprise owned by the ÉPIC Foundation, which is associated with the Montreal Heart Institute, and the Fondation PSI. Probably best known to the general public through the annual Health Challenge campaign, its mission is to help individuals take an active role in their health. To find out more, visit capsana.ca.

^{1. Léger-Capsana survey (2019). Campagne Pausetonécran.com. Rapport d’analyse d’un sondage post-campagne auprès de parents québécois d’adolescents de 12 à 17 ans.}