Ashna Ali
Projects and Events Lead
Jillian Gonzales
Projects and Events Coordinator
COMMENTARY
By Ashna Ali and Jillian Gonzales
What happens when young people, parents, educators, policymakers, researchers, and filmmakers gather in one room to watch a film about the future of childhood?
Earlier this spring, the Dais, in partnership with SickKids Child Health Policy Accelerator, hosted special Canadian screenings of Your Attention Please in Toronto and Ottawa. The documentary explores the impact of social media on youth mental health through the experiences of families, experts, and advocates working to address online harms.
Following each screening, audiences stayed for conversations with filmmakers, clinicians, youth leaders, and advocates about what healthier digital futures could look like – and what responsibility schools, governments, technology companies, and communities each have in creating them.
After the events, we asked three attendees to reflect on what stayed with them.
“Something is fundamentally wrong with these platforms.”
For Ibrahim, a Grade 9 student and Youth Champion with the Dais’ Heads Up initiative, the documentary reinforced that many of the challenges young people experience online are not accidental.
“What stood out most to me was the blatant disregard that Big Tech corporations like Meta and TikTok had for the effects they pose on young people.”
One moment that particularly resonated was seeing adults voluntarily disconnect through the Offline Club.
“As someone born into technology, it was interesting to watch adults–whose phones are their lives–choose to give them up. It showed me that disconnecting is difficult, but also possible.”
For Ibrahim, the path forward is clear: “We need to keep pushing for change and protection for young people because we know there is something fundamentally wrong with these platforms.”
For filmmaker and Unplugged Canada Toronto Chapter Lead Rebecca Snow, the evening reinforced both the urgency of the issue and the growing momentum behind collective action.
She reflected on the powerful testimony of Kristin Bride, whose advocacy following the death of her son Carson has helped drive conversations around platform accountability in the United States.
Kristin Bride reflects on the power of parent advocacy and the importance of holding technology platforms accountable for youth online safety.
Rebecca also found herself thinking about a comment shared during the panel by Youth Champion, Suki.
“She said that young people don’t actually feel like they have a choice about living their lives online. That really stayed with me.”
For Rebecca, that insight reframed the conversation.
“As adults who should know better, we are failing entire generations that have grown up in the shadow of this technology.”
The evening also prompted reflection from Ibrahim’s mother, who shared afterwards: “I thought I was an informed parent and I had my finger on the pulse, but clearly there is a lot more to this monster that we created. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am leaving hopeful—I have a million thoughts and ideas in my head that I want to immediately implement in my home and my school.”
Looking ahead, she sees change happening on multiple fronts—from stronger legislation and bell-to-bell school phone policies to parent-led initiatives that delay smartphone adoption and build healthier community norms.
“There is strength in numbers. Through collective action, and provincial and federal legislation, we can finally show Big Tech that they can’t get away with deliberately addicting and harming our kids.”
For social impact and educational transformation leader Safa Zaki, one of the evening’s most important takeaways came from Dr. Alene Toulany’s reminder that adolescence itself is a critical stage of development.
Dr. Alene Toulany is an Adolescent Medicine Specialist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto.
“Young people are developing their identities, values, and sense of belonging at exactly the same time that social media platforms are shaping those experiences.”
That message was echoed by students themselves. In Ottawa, Sasha, a current high school student and student trustee for the Central-Eastern Catholic School Board, shared during the post-film panel that stronger policies should support students in disconnecting.
Safa was also struck by Suki’s observation that being offline often isn’t a meaningful choice for today’s students.
“That insight underscored just how critical it is to have youth voices at the tables shaping policy and systems.”
Looking beyond social media, Safa believes these conversations must also prepare Canada for the next generation of digital technologies.
“Children are at the forefront of AI adoption. AI literacy must become an educational priority, alongside stronger governance and protections that help preserve what makes learning, relationships, and school life meaningful.”
While Your Attention Please sparked important conversations about social media and youth mental health, one message echoed across both evenings: healthier digital futures will require all of us.
Young people. Parents. Educators. Researchers. Policymakers. Community organizations. Technology leaders.
At the Dais, these conversations continue through our Heads Up initiative, where we work alongside young people and partners across Canada to build healthier relationships with technology through research, policy, education, and youth leadership.
Because if the digital world was designed by people, it can be redesigned by people, too.
P.S.: Your Attention Please is now available to pre-order for its October 6 release on Apple TV.
Pre-order at: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/your-attention-please/umc.cmc.4ld7f9g9oxkbl4mytroucdohz