This pioneering alliance comes in the context of growing concern about the effects of excessive use of the internet and social networks on the physical and psychological well-being of children and young people, a topic that is particularly relevant at a time when the start of the school year is marked by the ban on the use of cell phones in schools, for students in the 1st and 2nd cycles of basic education. As the leading operator in the country, MEO is attentive not only to trends, but also to the concerns of the sector, thus taking on the added responsibility of raising awareness in society and, above all, among parents, of the risks associated with digital dependency, reaffirming its role as an active agent in creating solutions that promote a healthy relationship with technology.
"MEO and the Fundação MEO assume the responsibility of leading when it comes to digital responsibility. We are focused on using our leadership position and the trust of the Portuguese to ensure that everyone has access to the information and tools needed to build a safer and more humane digital future for young people. With this partnership, and benefiting from Mirabilis' vast experience and credibility, we believe we can accelerate structural change and create a transformative impact on society," says Madalena Albuquerque, Executive Director of the Fundação MEO.
An alliance with social impact
The non-profit Mirabilis Association, set up by parents and educators, has stood out for its work with families, schools and policy makers, promoting awareness of the risks associated with excessive use of technology. With this partnership, content and tools based on the experience accumulated by Mirabilis and the Fundação MEO over more than a decade will be made available on the meo.pt website. The site stands out for offering scientific evidence and the in-depth knowledge of the reality that the two entities have to offer, given their historical footprint in this territory.
The aim is to:
- Preventing risky and addictive behavior;
- Training parents, educators and young people in the conscious use of technology;
- Promoting behavioral changes that contribute to a healthy relationship with interactive screens.
Mariana Reis, founder of the Mirabilis Association, stresses that "the early and excessive use of screens by children and young people, modeled after adults with increasingly digital lives, is a problem that has affected many families in Portugal and around the world". "Mirabilis is proud to be part of this partnership with MEO, in the hope that the issue of the impact of excessive screen use on the health and development of children and young people can be widely disseminated. It is urgent that knowledge about good practices and the prevention of addictive behaviors can reach many families and encourage good thinking and new behaviors," he adds.
Over a decade of commitment to digital security
A Fundação MEO has been a pioneer in promoting digital safety in schools since 2009, through the "Communicate Safely" program, developed in partnership with the PSP. This national reference initiative has already impacted more than 340,000 students across the country, addressing issues such as privacy and digital security, disinformation, cybercrime, cyberbullying, hate speech, online addiction and, more recently, the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. Also reflecting the way in which the company has made digital responsibility a major cause, MEO announced this year its new positioning 'Connect better'. The aim is to favor more human connections and reaffirm the role of technology as a means of bringing people together, now extending it to 'Connect better, in moderation'.
Now, having reached an even deeper dimension of the 'MEO Humanizes You' signature, MEO and its Foundation are taking this theme even further by joining forces with Mirabilis.
Data that reinforces the urgency of the intervention
According to data collected by Mirabilis, Portuguese teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17 spend, on average, more than 4 hours a day online, a figure that rises to 5 hours at the weekend. In addition, 48% of these young people use the internet to escape negative feelings, and OECD data shows that 1 in 6 Portuguese teenagers feel anxious without their cell phone. These figures highlight the urgent need for initiatives to combat the problematic use of interactive screens and mitigate the increased risk of depression, anxiety and school difficulties.