A responsible digital world for all
The Association's chairwoman, Béatrice Copper-Royer, and its managing director, Justine Atlan, look back on a key year in terms of digital usage and the need to provide support for young children, teenagers and their parents. With a view to creating a responsible digital world for all.
In what ways was 2021 a pivotal year for the Association?
J. A.: 2021 is, above all, the year that followed the upheavals caused by the pandemic, revealing a real need for increased assistance on digital issues for children, parents and professionals. The transformation of our helpline in 2021 into a national short number, 3018, supported by the Government, positions us as the single point of entry in France for covering all aspects of protecting minors from digital risks. 2021 also marks the recognition of our unfailing commitment in 2020 and our expertise, accumulated over 17 years. This expertise goes far beyond cyberbullying: overexposure to
screens, exposure to violent and pornographic images, online scams, fake news, video games, the influence of social media on mental health...
B. C-R.: The pandemic and successive lockdowns have significantly increased screen time for children and teenagers. At a time when both children and adults were feeling vulnerable, this could have had very negative effects, and when lockdown ended, some people found it very difficult to put down their screens. Children are getting younger and younger when they get their first smartphone, which gives them free and easy access to the internet. At the same time
At this age, they are still children and lack discernment... They are excited and curious, y
including sexual content, which is perfectly normal. Via the Internet, they can easily view violent or pornographic videos. This access to sexuality through pornography gives them a sad image that is not in line with what they will experience. There is also a link between pornography and harassment, as pornography trivialises nudity: young people send each other «nudes» that they use inappropriately, when this should remain within the private sphere.
2021 also revealed an awareness among public authorities of the need to put in place legal protection measures to support young people's digital usage.
J. A.: The accumulation of tragedies linked to cyberbullying and online hate in recent years has brought about change, notably with the creation of a digital prosecutor's office to combat online hate. Today, this type of violence is no longer tolerated. Victims can file complaints, which is what young Mila – whom we took under our wing – did after receiving a flood of hateful messages and death threats. At the end of a landmark trial, the court handed down suspended sentences of four to six months in prison.
B. C-R.: Things are moving in the right direction. All those involved in protecting young people are taking action because they are well aware of the significant psychological and behavioural repercussions of digital technology. ARCOM (created from the merger of CSA and Hadopi) is the new «watchdog» for audiovisual and digital media, with the power to sanction and issue formal notices to illegal platforms. It is now possible to file complaints against producers of pornographic websites.
J. A.: That is what the Association did for the first time in 2021; we took legal action with La Voix De L'Enfant to ask the courts to order Internet service providers to block pornographic websites that do not comply with the law of July 2020.
And what about parents in all this: what role should they play?
B. C-R.: A key role! Parents can no longer be naive: the internet is both the best and the worst. Some parents are in denial, even though the dangers of digital technology for children are now well known. Take overexposure to screens, for example. It is a real danger for young people, causing fatigue, concentration problems and the risk of academic failure.
J. A.: Today, our children and teenagers have several lives: family, school, extracurricular activities and also digital. That is a reality. And we must support, educate and protect our children in this digital space. That is the role of adults, parents, educators, public authorities and associations such as the e-Enfance Association.
B. C-R.: Children are most vulnerable between the ages of 10 and 15. Girls in this age group are very fond of social media. However, excessive and premature use of social media encourages children who are not yet mature enough to imitate adult behaviour.
The Association has come a long way since its inception. Are you still optimistic?
J. A.: Absolutely, even though we could have moved faster, particularly on the issue of young people's exposure to pornography. The last few years have marked the end of an era of laxity towards digital abuses in France and Europe. Today, politicians have taken responsibility for regulating digital players.
And with the 3018 scheme, the Association has been given greater resources to provide comprehensive and complete support for victims of digital violence.
B. C-R.: Nothing is inevitable: the web must remain the best! We must remain vigilant and control the
worse. There is no reason why you shouldn't succeed.
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