The province of Chubut is intensifying its efforts to shield its youth from the growing risks of the virtual world, specifically targeting the rise of online gambling and digital addiction. In a coordinated effort, the Ministry of Education and the Secretary of Health have launched “Clic para cuidar,” a comprehensive pedagogical tool designed for the prevención de consumos digitales problemáticos among children and adolescents.
Presented at the Héroes de Malvinas auditorium in Rawson, the initiative is part of the Provincial Interministerial Program for the Promotion of Responsible Digital Citizenship. The project, which received critical support from the Instituto de Asistencia Social – Lotería del Chubut, recognizes that the intersection of gaming and betting apps has created a new frontier of vulnerability for minors.
The program arrives at a critical juncture as digital environments have evolved into primary social spaces where adolescents construct their identities and maintain relationships. By integrating educational and health perspectives, the province aims to move beyond simple restriction, focusing instead on building a critical digital consciousness.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Digital Wellness
The core of the initiative is a specialized booklet tailored for students between the ages of 10 and 13. However, the strategy extends far beyond the classroom. Recognizing that digital addiction cannot be solved in isolation, the material is also being distributed to families, teaching staff, and healthcare providers.
More than 1,000 physical copies are being delivered to primary and secondary schools across the province. To ensure the reach is comprehensive, the guides are also being provided to professionals at the Centros Integrales de Tratamiento (CIT) of consumption problems, as well as specialized pediatric and adolescent health teams. For broader accessibility, the Ministry of Education and the Secretary of Health have made the material available as a PDF on their respective official websites.
Analía Alfaro, coordinator of the Team for Orientation and Support for Educational Trajectories (EOATE), and Valeria Nazar, provincial director of Prevention and Assistance of Addictions, emphasized that this is a community-wide challenge. They argued that the role of responsible adults is paramount in navigating these spaces, stating that “La prevención es, ante todo, la reconstrucción del lazo social y la defensa de la vulnerabilidad de nuestras infancias.”
Breaking Down the Framework: Four Pillars of Prevention
Developed with the expertise of psychologists Jimena Petriello and Sebastián Quinteros, the “Clic para cuidar” material is structured into four thematic units designed to transition students from basic awareness to active, critical participation.
The first unit establishes the foundation of digital citizenship, exploring the current legal framework and the psychological drivers behind the “culture of influence” and modern consumption patterns. The second unit tackles the most pressing issues, specifically focusing on problematic digital consumption and the specific risks of ludopatía (gambling addiction), which has seen a sharp increase due to the accessibility of mobile betting platforms.
The third unit shifts the focus toward the support network, emphasizing “corresponsibility”—the idea that the school, the health system, and the family must work in a synchronized web of care. Finally, the fourth unit provides concrete, actionable tools for the classroom, offering differentiated didactic sequences for primary and secondary levels to ensure the lessons are age-appropriate.
Implementation and Distribution Strategy
| Target Group | Delivery Method | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Students (10-13 yrs) | Physical Booklet / PDF | Critical digital citizenship |
| Educators | Physical Booklet / Training | Classroom implementation |
| Families | PDF / School distribution | Home-based monitoring & support |
| Health Professionals | Physical Booklet / CITs | Clinical prevention & treatment |
Beyond the Booklet: Sustained Intervention
The launch of the material is not a one-time event but the start of a year-long intervention. Provincial authorities have confirmed that the program includes continuous training sessions throughout the year. These workshops are intended to preserve educators and health professionals updated on the rapidly evolving nature of digital threats and the latest strategies for the prevención de consumos digitales problemáticos.
By framing the issue as a matter of rights and protection, the Government of Chubut is attempting to create a safety net that follows the student from the home to the classroom and, if necessary, into the healthcare system. The goal is to ensure that technology remains a tool for education and connection rather than a gateway to addiction.
Disclaimer: This article provides information on public health initiatives and is for informational purposes only. If you or a family member are struggling with digital addiction or gambling, please contact your local health provider or a certified addiction specialist.
The next phase of the program will involve the rollout of the scheduled training workshops for teachers and health teams, which will monitor the initial implementation of the didactic sequences in classrooms across the province.
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