I am a student in the Halton District School Board (HDSB) in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Recently, our ability to communicate with friends was abruptly interrupted when the HDSB Admins disabled Google Chat without any clear reason. This decision has had a significant impact on our daily interactions and collaborative learning experiences. Google Chat is not just a tool for casual conversation; it's an essential platform that facilitates communication among students, especially during remote learning periods.

According to Statistics Canada, as of 2019, over 90% of people aged 15 to 24 use the internet for social media and communication purposes. Disabling such an important tool hinders our ability to stay connected and collaborate effectively on school projects.

We understand that there may be concerns about online safety or misuse of the platform; however, we believe these issues can be addressed through proper guidelines and monitoring rather than completely disabling the service.

We urge HDSB Admins to reconsider their decision and reinstate Google Chat for its students' benefit. Please sign this petition if you support better communication tools within our educational system.