Videotron and CIEL, working together for healthy digital habits
The content, activities, and tools featured in this guide were developed in collaboration with the Centre pour l’intelligence émotionnelle en ligne (CIEL), an organization dedicated to helping young people, families, and schools navigate today's digital realities.
Together, Videotron and CIEL provide practical resources grounded in research and real-world experiences to help you support your child in using their first cellphone safely, responsibly, and in a balanced, positive way.
Create, play, and think critically
Photos, videos, games, social media, and online content: discover how to support your child in making the most of their phone's creative and entertainment potential while developing good habits around online safety, critical thinking, and responsible digital consumption.
Cellphones are great tools for capturing memories, whether or not you choose to share them online. They allow us to keep those memories in our photo libraries and can also provide opportunities to create content that brings us joy.
Sharing content or posting about ourselves online does come with certain risks, including potential exposure to individuals with harmful intentions. It is important to ask for permission before taking, sharing, or posting photos of other people. If a difficult situation arises, it is essential to speak with a trusted adult as soon as possible and make use of reporting and blocking tools when needed.
A cellphone also provides access to a wide range of entertainment options, including mobile games, social media, music, streaming services, YouTube, TV shows, and movies. There is no shortage of ways to be entertained, with something for every interest and preference.
To fully benefit from the positive aspects of the entertainment available on a cellphone, it's important to learn how to recognize quality content.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Is this video realistic?
- Was it generated using artificial intelligence?
- Was this content actually created by the person who posted it?
- Was the creator paid by a brand to share this content?
- Is the information being presented accurate?
- Does the person sharing this content have relevant expertise or experience on the topic?
- What makes me trust a particular type of content?
- Am I viewing this content intentionally, or simply out of habit?
Talking about artificial intelligence with your child
AI-generated images, videos, and answers are becoming part of everyday life online. Learn how to better understand this technology and start meaningful conversations about it with your family.
Given the nearly endless amount of entertainment available on cellphones, it is important for young people to learn how to spend their time doing activities other than using screens. When screens become the only way to relieve boredom, it can lead to a less balanced relationship with technology. In fact, boredom may become harder to tolerate, and the brain can begin to rely on constant, immediate stimulation.
Activity – Activity box
An idea box for screen-free activities
Running out of ideas when it's time to put the screens away? As a family, create a box filled with fun activity ideas that you can draw at random to get moving, be creative, explore, or simply spend time together.
Practical information
Why is there a minimum age requirement on social media?
Minimum age requirements allow platforms to:
- collect personal data from minors;
- serve personalized and targeted advertising;
- legally obtain young users' consent when they agree to the platform's terms of use.
In Québec, children under the age of 13 are not legally recognized as being able to provide consent on their own.
CIEL tip
Mobile games may seem educational and harmless. However, the business model behind apps relies on data collection, profiling, and advertising. Mobile games can be a fun way to learn, improve skills, and even experience failure—a normal part of learning. However, it's important to understand that paying to win or to upgrade an avatar should not be necessary to fully enjoy a game.
Some useful questions to ask include:
- If I buy an item in the game, will it really make me better at it?
- Am I playing because I want to, or because the many notifications are encouraging me to?
- Do I have a parent's or trusted adult's permission to make purchases in the game?
Real-life scenarios
The scenarios that follow are inspired by real situations shared by young people with CIEL facilitators. They can serve as a starting point for conversations with your child. Each scenario is accompanied by practical guidance to help your child respond effectively and confidently.
I see content that makes me uncomfortable.
What to do:
- Report the content.
- Close the page.
- Talk to a trusted adult about it.
- Review the app’s safety and privacy settings.
I want to buy the same products my favourite content creator uses in their videos.
What to do:
- Check whether it is an advertisement or a sponsored partnership.
- Ask yourself whether you really need the product.
- Ask a parent or trusted adult for their opinion before making a purchase.
- Wait a few days or a few weeks to see whether you still want the product(s).
Helpful tip: It's important for young people to understand that content creators may be paid to promote products in their videos. This does not necessarily mean that they use those products themselves. Often, their goal is to encourage viewers to buy the products in exchange for compensation.
A stranger wants to give me gifts in my game.
What to do:
- Do not accept the gift.
- End the conversation immediately.
- Block and report the account.
- Tell a trusted adult about the situation.
Activity – Let’s imagine...
What if you could prepare for a difficult situation before it happens? Through a series of scenarios inspired by young people's everyday experiences, this activity encourages families to think through simple, practical solutions together for navigating the digital world safely.
