24% of 8-18 year olds would not last more than 1 hour without their smartphone*.
This figure speaks volumes about the place that smartphones, and beyond that, screens (tablets, computers, consoles) have taken in the lives of children and teenagers today. The President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the subject of screen time for young people, during his press conference on 16 January. He expressed his desire to regulate usage by taking measures to regain control of our screens and their use by children .A committee of experts will present its initial findings at the end of March.
Physical and mental health
This invasive screen time is not without effects on both physical and mental health and the phenomenon is all the more noteworthy given that, at the same time, we are seeing a rejuvenation of affected children.
According to a study by Étude de Santé Publique France (April 2023), screen time already accounts for... 1 hour 20 minutes daily on average around the age of 3 and an average of 1 hour 34 minutes per day around the age of 5, which is far from the WHO recommendations (maximum 1 hour per day between the ages of 2 and 5). Even younger, at the age of 2 years old, average daily screen time is 56 minutes, according to a study by INED (National Institute for Demographic Studies) and INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), published last April.
Screen time survey
And the older the child gets, the more pronounced this tendency becomes: 7-12 year olds surf the Internet for more than 9 hours each week and watch just as much television., according to a survey of 4,000 children and/or parents conducted by Ipsos with Bayard/Milan and Unique Heritage Media in 2022. The 13-19 year olds surf the Internet for almost 18 hours per week, play video games for 9 hours and 25 minutes, and watch television for almost 9 hours per week..
« Parents and public authorities are becoming more aware of these issues. And the DSA (European Digital Services Act, editor's note) also includes a section on the protection of minors. Everything is therefore in place for progress to be made on these issues. However, there is still a lack of scientific consensus and data, which the council set up by the Elysée could provide. », says Justine Atlan in Les Echos.
For advice or assistance with these issues, whether you are a parent or a young user 3018 is available 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. And every day prevention and awareness modules are given in primary and secondary schools by speakers from the Association (Screens and Health, Screen Addiction, etc.).
If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please do not hesitate!
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*Study by Association e-Enfance/3018-Caisse d’Epargne on cyberbullying among 8-18 year olds (2023)
