The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is hoping local students use their March Break to find ways to balance their screen time.
For the second year, the health unit is holding a PSA contest for students in grades 6 through 12 on responsible technology use.
The Connected, Not Controlled Challenge asks students to create a 30-second public service announcement. The video may be in either English or French, and must include at least one 'Connected, Not Controlled' fact, and at least one call to action.
"Participating in the 'Connected, Not Controlled Challenge' allows youth to create important messages for their peers," said WECHU Senior Director Kristy McBeth. "It gives them a chance to reflect on their digital habits and reminds us that technology should support our well‑being, not control it. By learning to take a balanced approach to screen use, youth are building lifelong skills around balance, awareness, and digital safety, preparing them for a future in a digital world."
Videos must be submitted by March 31.
The submissions will then be judged in two age groups [grades 6 to 8, and grades 9 to 12], with the top five selected in each group.
Beginning on April 27, the public will vote for their favourites, with prizes awarded to the winning videos and to the publicly funded schools with the most participation.
According to the 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, many students in grades 7 through 12 are not properly balancing the use of computers and cell phones with proper sleep. Results included the following.
82 per cent of respondents spent at least three hours per day on screens.
50 per cent spent at least three hours daily on social media.
62 per cent sleep seven or fewer hours on school nights.
32 per cent achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity on six to seven days each week.
Last year's PSA contest on technology use generated 64 videos from 19 schools, involving over 100 students and over 2,000 public votes.
Complete information on the challenge is available on the health unit's official website.
