Canyons School District students are getting four lessons on technology use and online behavior this school year, starting with Digital Citizenship Week through Friday, Oct. 23.

The district-wide initiative, announced on the Alta High School website, embeds the lessons into the Advisory curriculum at schools throughout the district. The lessons help students find balance in their technology habits and think about how they act online.

Canyons District holds a certification as a Common Sense District, a recognition tied to its digital citizenship curriculum, according to the district's digital citizenship page. The district treats issues like cyberbullying, privacy and evaluating online information as teachable moments.

The district's competency framework covers evaluating online information, crediting others' work, and using technology for civic engagement.

Screen time is a persistent concern for Utah families. The 2025 Utah Student Health and Risk Prevention survey found that 79.5% of students spend two or more hours a day on electronic devices for non-school purposes. While 81.7% of students reported having screen-time rules at home, only about half said their parents enforce them.

Grades dropped after three hours. The SHARP data showed that 45% of students earning A grades spent two to three hours a day on screens, with performance declining beyond that threshold.

Utah lawmakers acted on similar concerns earlier this year. House Bill 273, signed March 18, requires the State Board of Education to create model policies on classroom technology use by Dec. 1, including age-based limits on screen exposure for younger students, according to MultiState.

The digital citizenship push at Canyons schools builds on earlier community efforts. In July, the Alta High PTSA hosted a "Create with Kindness" event funded by a $4,000 National PTA grant, where families explored safe and positive technology use, the Sandy Journal reported. About 400 Alta students completed a survey for that event. Sherry Iverson, Alta High PTSA treasurer, said results showed most teens reported positive experiences online, while students said they spent two to four hours daily on social media.

"We need to communicate with each other," Alta High PTSA President Sandy Stock said at the July event. "Ask what kinds of experiences they're having online, how they're involved, have them teach you something."

Digital Citizenship Week wraps up Friday, Oct. 23. Family resources are available on the district's digital citizenship page.