Better Internet for Kids

In mid-January 2024, Emmanuel Macron established a Commission composed of experts from civil society to evaluate the issues related to children's exposure to screens and make recommendations. Over the course of three months, the Commission interviewed nearly 150 young people and heard from more than 100 experts and professionals to cover various aspects of children's and adolescents' relationships with screens and digital technology.

Throughout their work, the Commission members became convinced that the issue of screens should not overshadow the broader and much-needed debate on the place of children and adolescents in our aging society, where they are becoming increasingly invisible. For our youth, screens are sometimes sought after because they promise significant socialisation, offer unlimited access to knowledge, new skills, and entertainment, combat isolation, and compensate for certain disabilities. However, they are also endured due to strategies for capturing attention and personal data, amplifying hate, and being omnipresent in public spaces, which favour control over empowerment.

The Commission found that children are widely exposed to screens (an average of ten per household) from an early age, with screens contributing to sleep deficits, physical inactivity, obesity, chronic diseases, and vision problems. Concerns about the neurodevelopmental impact of screens, particularly for children under four and adolescents, highlight the need for regulatory measures. Although not officially recognised as an addiction, screens, especially social networks, pose additional risks for vulnerable children and adolescents, exacerbating issues like depression and anxiety. Unregulated access to screens exposes minors to harmful content and poses high risks, including pedo-criminality. 

Despite efforts by public authorities and digital actors, the issue's complexity often results in feelings of powerlessness. New European commitments, supported by France, present an essential opportunity for coordinated action and legislative initiatives

An English report of the findings and recommendations of the Screen Commission will soon be available and shared by the French Safer Internet Centre.

Find more information about the work of the French Safer Internet Centre, including their awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.