A recent study reveals early digital integration among children in France, with 40% of 4-year-olds having their own device. This trend raises questions about the impact of technology on younger generations.
The question of early exposure of children digital is taking on a critical dimension, exacerbated by platforms like TikTok, which, according to recent revelations, would not take the necessary measures to prevent registrations from under 13s. This laxity, observed even in the face of substantial fines imposed by European regulators, highlights a systemic problem in the moderation of youth accounts on social networks. Meta, despite its advanced technological capabilities to protect minors, also seems reluctant to fully utilize these tools, leaving vulnerable children when faced with potentially harmful content.
Faced with these challenges, voices must be raised for stricter supervision of digital use among young people. Emmanuel Macron himself raised the possibility to impose restrictionsor even bans on access to screens for children, based on a scientific consensus to determine healthy rules of use. This initiative echoes similar approaches considered internationally, such as in China, where the use of smartphones for children could be limited to two hours per day.
Nearly half of French 4-year-old children already own a digital device
The Express VPN study, carried out among 1000 young French people aged 4 to 17, highlights the normalization of digital devices in the lives of young people. Barely out of early childhood, 40% of 4 year old children already have their own tablet, computer or smartphone. This proportion reaches a peak in adolescence, with 99% of 14 year olds own a smartphone. This early integration into the digital world highlights a major evolution in media consumption habits compared to to previous generationswho grew up with television as their primary means of electronic entertainment.
However, this immersion in the digital world is not without risks. The study reveals that 58% of young people interviewed have already been confronted with negative online experiencessuch as intimidation, harassment or inappropriate solicitations. Despite this, only half of them choose to share these incidents with their parents. Access to the Internet is becoming an essential social norm for children, encouraged by parents themselves, who fear seeing their children socially isolated. This complex reality poses a major problem for families and educators, torn between the advantages of digital integration and the need to protect children potential dangers of the online world.
Source: expressvpn