The Department of Social Action ran a series of sessions in Antigua aimed at promoting the healthy use of screens and emotional wellbeing in digital environments
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through its Department of Social Action, brought together 140 people for the sessions ‘Pantallas en Red, Personas en Conexión. Jornadas de Convivencia y Emociones en la Era Digital’ (‘Screens Networked, People Connected: Sessions on Coexistence and Emotions in the Digital Age’). A total of 125 children and teenagers, along with 15 professionals working in education and social services for children and young people, took part in the sessions, which were designed to promote emotional wellbeing and healthy coexistence in the digital age.
The initiative was launched by the Island Children’s Service, part of the Department of Social Action led by Víctor Alonso, as part of Fuerteventura’s Second Island Plan for Children and Adolescents (II Plan Insular de Infancia y Adolescencia). Held in the municipality of Antigua, the sessions culminated in a rewarding joint meeting at which both groups shared advice on the responsible use of technology.
Workshops
The sessions were held in two separate settings tailored to the characteristics and needs of each group of participants, with input from three professionals from the OXIA team, the organisation responsible for carrying out the Second Island Plan for Children and Adolescents.
The Antigua Youth Centre hosted the workshops aimed at professionals. The first, ‘Convivencia Digital y Hábitos Saludables’ (‘Digital Coexistence and Healthy Habits’), examined the main challenges associated with children and young people’s everyday use of screens, with particular attention to the impact on emotional wellbeing, rest, attention span and social relationships. Participants also worked on strategies for setting healthy boundaries, preventing cyberbullying and excessive connectivity, and encouraging support from families and schools.
The second workshop, ‘Uso Positivo, Activo y Responsable de la Tecnología’ (‘Positive, Active and Responsible Use of Technology’), explored the educational and creative opportunities offered by digital tools, encouraging more mindful, active and responsible use.
Meanwhile, at CEO Antigua, pupils in Years 5 and 6 of Primary Education and the first year of secondary school (ESO) took part in the workshop ‘Dentro de la Pantalla: Emociones, Redes y Yo’ (‘Inside the Screen: Emotions, Networks and Me’). Through participatory activities and scenarios close to their everyday lives, the children and teenagers reflected on how social media, video games and messaging apps affect their emotions and personal relationships. They also discussed issues such as peer pressure, the need for approval, digital empathy, cyberbullying, exclusion and the importance of building a safe and respectful digital identity.
One of the highlights of the sessions was the closing meeting between the pupils and the professionals, which created a space for dialogue, listening and joint reflection on the challenges posed by the use of technology in everyday life.
The meeting proved especially rewarding, as the recommendations put forward by the pupils largely matched those made by the professionals, showing that, despite the generational gap, both groups share the same concerns, needs and ideas for improving coexistence in digital environments.
