Schooling or learning process - Study recommends children avoid using smartphones until they reach 13 years of age.
Today, smartphones are everywhere - from booking trips to calling relatives or capturing everyday life. However, parents struggle with deciding when to introduce their children to the digital world. The French government recently commissioned a study to determine the appropriate age for kids to start using smartphones. The results were surprising: children under 13 shouldn't use iPhones or similar devices, and the use of social media should only be allowed after they turn 18.
The main reason behind this recommendation is to protect children from profiteering tech companies. The report argues that children are being turned into commodities in this market. Companies attempt to "captivate children's attention, using all forms of cognitive distraction to lock them in front of screens, control them, re-engage them, and monetize them," according to the study.
The experts leading the study, including neurologist Servane Mouton and Amine Benyamina, Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Addictions at Paul Brousse Hospital, also suggest restrictions on screen use. Children under three should not interact with screens at all, not even with the television. Children under 11 shouldn't have phones, and those between 11 and 13 should use phones without internet access. The researchers recommend a minimum age of 13 for smartphones with internet access.
The scientists are also critical of teenagers' use of social media. They suggest that teenagers should only have access to "ethical" social networks like Mastodon, operated as a non-profit company, from the age of 15. Profit-driven networks like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok should only be used by teenagers from 18 onwards. Additionally, teenagers should be educated about the importance of sleep and the negative effects of screen usage.
The study suggests that strong restrictions should also be imposed in an educational context. Screens should be used sparingly and rarely for educational purposes for children under six, ideally with adult supervision. Tablets and other digital devices should not be employed in elementary schools, except for children with disabilities. "No child needs a screen to develop before the age of six," explains Mouton. "In fact, screens can hinder development at this age."
Despite the need for parents and children to be mindful of screen usage, the researchers note that adults are "victims of a powerful technology industry" themselves. They encourage parents to avoid constantly using their cell phones, which can negatively affect the emotional development of young people. This includes scenarios such as adults scrolling through their phones while feeding young children or living in households with constant background television.
"Technology is a great tool, but it should serve people and not reduce them to using a product," says Benyamina. Screens have a negative impact on children in terms of vision, metabolism, intelligence, concentration, and cognitive processes. The addictive nature of screens is not due to the product itself but the content, which is structured to keep users engaged. Thus, society as a whole must remain vigilant.
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Source: www.stern.de
