A series of referendums. This is what could expect the French next fall. Guest on TF1 on Tuesday, May 13, Emmanuel Macron confirmed that he would ask the French for referendum “in the coming months.”
“I do not want to give the issues too precision, because it depends on the government to do this work,” he added, “but the mind is that we can in the main economic, educational or social reforms, understand our compatriots.”
Among the potential issues: the end of life, the question of “children and adolescents” or the spiny issue of screens. You also want to impose an age verification on social networks to protect young people.
A constant screen time
It is not surprising since for several years, the government has been trying to limit the screen time for the youngest. In July 2023, the Law of Digital Majority established the legal age of access to social networks at 15. But an implementation decree has not been published.
Last year, a report entitled “Children and screens, in search of lost time”, written by a commission of experts on the subject, was even delivered to the President of the Republic. The latter recommends prohibiting the use of screens and mobile phones for the youngest. Alerts in particular “the negative, direct and indirect effects, screens”, especially in sleep, sedentary lifestyle or even myopia.
In fact, average daily screen time among young people has constantly increased for 10 years. Therefore, among adolescents from 13 to 19 years, the time in front of the screens has gone from 4:20 to 5:10 per day on average according to an Ipsos survey with Bayard/Milan and only media in 2022. An average that could rise at 10 am per day, according to the psychologist and founder of the “safety safety screens” safety “.
In detail, the survey specifies that young people aged 13 to 19 navigate on the Internet almost 6 pm one week, play video games for 9:25 am and watch television almost at 9 am
Well anchored habits despite the negative effects
Figures considered too high by families. After An opinionway study Since last February, 83% of parents want less screens for their children. In fact, according to a barometer of the childhood foundation last January, parents and teachers are unanimous on the issue of screens. Everyone is concerned about possible negative effects in their young children.
As proof, 63% of the parents interviewed discover that the screens have “negative effects” in their children. Between The problems posed by the screensThey cite irritability, attention and sleep disorders.
An observation shared by the main in question. In 2023, according to Insee, 57% of Internet users under 20 years of age declared at least one harmful effect linked to the use of screens in everyday life. Here again, the reduction in sleep time, the negligence of other activities, the feeling of depression and Sensations of obsession With respect to the screens are among the main factors.
Despite these alarming studies, habits are well rooted. If 50% of Internet users aged 15 to 24 declare that they have tried to limit their use of screens, 10% of those who tried have not succeeded.
On the family side, almost one in ten parents does not limit their children’s uses. Worse, parents, often because of lack of time, do not hesitate to regularly offer activities on screens to their children during the holidays. This is the case of 84% of them according to Opinionway.
Parents who give the wrong example
Another difficulty, according to Insee, more than half of the parents remain on their phone “while taking care of their children.” Among SMS during food or a call in the middle of a part of 1000 terminals, these gestures, sometimes unconscious, have a negative impact on the personal development of children and give them the wrong example.
To protect children from the screens, experts advise to limit the screen time according to age. There is no screen before 3 years, then twenty minutes a day for young people aged 3 to 6, thirty minutes for 6 to 8 years, forty -five minutes for 8 to 10 years, and one hour for those over 10 years.
Vanessa Lalo, a psychologist specializing in video games and digital practices, advises by her side that challenges with her son and is interested in her uses on the Internet.
“The most important thing with the screens is what we do with him (…) We must distinguish the quality content of those who areolate children,” he insists. If the child’s favorite content is small or not, qualitative, parents can advise certain publications. He also advises “to put words in what they have seen on the Internet, to eliminate situations that could be harmful, Like cyberbullying.
Source: BFM TV
