Laura Cuesta Cano urges digital wellbeing education for Spanish youth

Laura Cuesta Cano, expert of the Sharenting working group and member of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood’s expert committee on a safe digital environment, addressed the ninth Forum of Educational Innovation at Caxton College in Valencia. She called for a shift from parental‑control tools to comprehensive digital literacy that equips children and adolescents with critical thinking skills for responsible technology use.

Cano cited that more than 92% of young people in Spain are on at least one social network and noted that 52% of minors say their parents rarely discuss internet use, while they spend an average of four hours daily on devices for non‑academic purposes. She emphasized the pivotal role of schools and families, quoting, “Tenemos que educar y formar a niños, niñas y adolescentes para que hagan un uso seguro, responsable y crítico de la tecnología, y para construir una sociedad digital ética.” She also highlighted research stating, “más allá del tiempo, lo importante es cómo y para qué se usan las pantallas.” The event underscored the need for active, creative, and shared screen use rather than passive consumption.