The phrase “You're cooler without your phone”, displayed on billboards, marks the start of the “DisConnect” campaign at Escola 2,3 Egas Moniz de Avanca. The goal is to raise awareness among children, young people, families, and professionals about the dangers of excessive screen use. The Municipality of Estarreja is one of the partners in this initiative.
The collaboration protocol, signed on September 28, involves the Intermunicipal Community of the Aveiro Region (CIRA), the Local Health Unit of the Aveiro Region (ULSRA), and the Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD). The agreement includes disseminating the campaign, promoting health literacy, and preventing excessive screen use, particularly within the school community.
Isabel Simões Pinto, president of the Municipality of Estarreja, highlighted the campaign's importance for the integrated education of children and young people, aiming for a healthy balance between the digital world and offline experiences. The campaign is based on scientific evidence regarding the impacts of screen use on physical, mental, and social health.
Messages such as “So much to do. Put down the screens and go play. Be creative” and "There's life beyond screens. Go live your way!", written by participating children, have been intentionally preserved to value their authenticity and role as protagonists.
