Digital technology has transformed the way children, youth, and families connect, learn, and access support. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption, increasing online learning, social interactions, and mental health resources. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now shaping education, healthcare, and personalized content, offering both opportunities and risks. While technology enhances communication and learning, at times digital technology can present challenges for children, youth, or their families. The Growing Up Online Toolkit provides information and resources including digital technology screening and assessment tools, for service providers to support children, youth, and families navigate the digital world safely and effectively.
For information for children, youth, parents, and caregivers, visit Growing Up Online - MyHealth.Alberta.ca.
Addiction research has traditionally focused on substance use disorders. Non-substance related concerns, such as behavioural or process addictions, are less commonly understood, especially in children and youth.
Since digital technology is deeply integrated into young people’s daily lives, it is crucial to understand their online activities. Service providers and families should be aware that excessive screen time may negatively impact children and youth.
Problematic use of digital technology is defined as any digital activity that causes significant distress to emotional and physical well-being, and which has a negative impact on day-to-day life.
This toolkit includes a selection of tools designed to help service providers assess potential risks, patterns of use, and areas requiring support or intervention. These tools can guide early detection and inform individualized care planning.
The development of the Growing Up Online Toolkit involved input from Alberta Health Services (AHS) programs, service providers, and youth. Recognizing that youth perspectives are essential in shaping meaningful and relevant services, Child, Youth & Family Initiatives (CYFI) conducted targeted consultations with young people to ensure their voices were central to the toolkit’s creation.
The following general resources include recommended internet resources, recreational activities, screening and assessment tools, and a comprehensive list of terms with explanations that service providers.
Substance use has held a monopoly on addictive disorders research when compared to non-substance use. Non-substance related concerns, such as process addictions, are less commonly understood, especially with regard to child and youth populations. The mental health community continues to debate what constitutes normal, problematic or pathological use of digital technology. This toolkit provides context into patterns of use amongst youth that warrant further attention and intervention.
Digital technology use by children and youth has been associated with:
Language and trends, identified by the World Health Organization, offer service providers relevant and practical information in the areas of:
In partnership with the Francophone community, the need to translate the toolkit in French was identified.
Poster
The following poster provides a succinct and clear summary of the toolkit:
While this toolkit was being developed, several related topics emerged as additional areas of interest and relevance to the problematic use of digital technology in children and youth. These include cultural issues, LGBTQ+ community, self-harm, and suicide online.
For more information about the detailed English and French versions of the Growing Up Online Toolkit, email informationandcyfistandards@ahs.ca.
