Lhe proposals adopted by the “screens” commission set up by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, are courageous. If they are applied, they will cause an upheaval in the social landscape which will go well beyond the protection of children from the dangers of screens.
First of all, the ban on screens before the age of 3 is not a surprise: since 2006 and the first movements to combat TV for babies, all experts recognize that “screens are not for children.” It is fortunate that this observation is becoming law in spaces where the relationship between adults and children is particularly important.
The ban on computers and televisions in nurseries and nursery classes is excellent news, and the limitation ” as much as possible “ mobile phones and televisions in maternity wards is just as important: young children need the perspective of their parents and educators to feel supported in their exploration of the world and relationships.
This recommendation, however, risks posing a problem for cafe owners and restaurateurs who welcome families in which children under 3 years old are immediately seated in front of a screen. Will the legislator plan to affix a warning similar to the one which reminds us that alcoholic drinks are prohibited before the age of 18? It would then be up to this profession to ensure that its clients respect this rule.
“Educational quality” of films
That children before the age of 6 have access “heavily limited to screens” is not a surprise either, and the commission was right to specify the importance of the choice of content and support by an adult. Implicitly, this means “no child watching television news before the age of 6”. It might have been useful to clarify this.
But here too, a problem immediately arises. When it comes to movies (in theaters or on television), how will parents decide which ones can have a “educational quality” for their child aged 5, 6 or 7 years old while they benefit from no other information than the ban, or not, on children under 12 years old?
The question is all the more crucial as the representatives of directors and producers have the majority on the Commission for the Classification of Cinematographic Works. [CCOC] and exert strong pressure so that their films escape the famous ban in order to be able to be shown on the small screen in the early evening.
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