An association aimed at digital well-being was born, which was presented this Thursday, October 16th, in a session that took place at Grémio Literário, in Lisbon.
The Institute for Digital Wellbeing has as its founding members a few dozen personalities, namely Ana Paula Harfouche (president of the board), Ana Margarida Simões Ferreira, André Magrinho, António Rebelo de Sousa (president of the assembly board), António Mendonça, Carla Gonçalves Pereira, Duro da Costa, Gregória Van Amann, Guilherme de Oliveira Martins, Idalécio Lourenço, Isabel Ucha, Jorge Rio Cardoso, José Félix Ribeiro, José Manuel Annes, Leandro Pereira, Luís Pisco, Madalena Bernardes Coelho, Madalena Perestrelo de Oliveira, Manuel Botto, Miguel Teixeira de Abreu, Mário Caldeira Dias, Mário Freire, Pedro Krupenski, Pedro Ramos, Rúben Raposo and Tiago Eira. The objective, according to António Rebelo de Sousa, is to help “reconcile social well-being with the digital world and Artificial Intelligence”.
A central concern of the new association is the effect that new technologies can have on children and young people, for example in the use of games and in situations that can encourage abuse. The Institute presented a manifesto which addresses excessive exposure to the digital world, with consequences for the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults. Among other initiatives, the Institute for Digital Wellbeing will work with universities and other entities to carry out studies on these topics, which contribute to a balance between the well-being of people and society itself and the exploitation of the potential of new technologies, António Rebelo de Sousa told DN. The association may admit new members who wish to register.