We all lead ultra-connected lives today. By 2025, every household in France will have, on average, more than ten digital devices with screens.¹ One in two people continues to read the news or watch videos at bedtime, and one in three does so during meals.² Unsurprisingly, social media fuels the feeling among one in two people that they spend too much time on their smartphones. In fact, screens are a constant presence in the daily lives of children and teenagers, raising concerns. Government authorities are attempting to address this: the ban on social media for children under 15, passed by Parliament in July, was struck down by the Constitutional Council, while the ban on cell phones in high school came into effect at the start of the school year. A new proposal on social media was submitted to the European Commission, which in mid-September presented the Kids Act, a proposed regulation to govern minors’ access to social media. 

In this context, the aim of this issue’s feature is to highlight the scope and diversity of children’s and young people’s digital habits, the harmful effects on their physical and mental health, as well as the benefits they derive from them. It offers suggestions for balanced screen time.

From a Very Young Age

The Enabee study by Santé publique France provides data on the time spent in front of screens by elementary school students: nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes for 3- to 5-year-olds, and about 2 hours and 30 minutes for 9- to 11-year-olds. Television dominates at this age, but smartphones and video game consoles are gaining ground starting at age 9. Social inequalities are pronounced: children whose parents have lower levels of education spend more time on screens and are more likely to have a screen in their bedroom. Social media use increases in middle school and is more common among girls than boys, according to the En Class survey. Two articles shed light on young people’s relationship with screens: one reviews the findings of the Citizens’ Convention on Children’s Time, while the other examines the social connections that digital technology provides for teenagers. Adolescents acknowledge that screens play an excessive role in their lives and admit to heavy use, but they also find ways to cope with their anxieties online.

Proven Negative Health Effects

Scientific understanding of the link between screen exposure and health has grown, although many aspects remain to be explored, particularly in the field of mental health. This feature presents several studies illustrating this link. For example, the report “In Search of Lost Time” documents proven risks to physical health (sleep, sedentary behavior, eyesight). Research shows how parents’ smartphone use disrupts their interactions with their babies, to the point that a term has been coined to describe the phenomenon: parental “technoference.” The expert report by the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) highlights how social media affects teenagers’ physical and mental health; it describes the mechanisms these platforms use to capture attention, which exploit the vulnerability specific to this age group, posing the danger of being swept into an endless spiral, also known as the “rabbit hole.” However, one article urges caution: the risks to the cognitive development of children aged 0–6 should be put into perspective when use is supervised. This calls for collective and proportionate preventive measures.

Taking Action on Multiple Fronts

To ensure that children and adolescents are not left without safeguards when it comes to screen time, various courses of action are possible. A researcher at the University of Geneva emphasizes the need to shift from a mindset of individual responsibility—which falls on the shoulders of families—to a collective approach that combines regulation, prevention, and education. A law professor at the University of Paris 1, highlighting the problems posed by banning social media for those under 15, advocates for regulating platforms: It is up to them to redesign their digital services to strengthen user protection, for example by removing addictive features. 

Prevention takes place on several levels, and first and foremost within families. In the 2026 Barometer published by the National Union of Family Associations, screen time management now ranks as the top educational challenge. However, families are not on their own; numerous tools and interventions exist to support them. The Family and Parenting Support Program (PSFP) now addresses screen use by offering parents workshops led by trained professionals. Early childhood educators also have a role to play in encouraging parents to adopt new habits and offering children alternative activities. 

Banning cell phones at school is not enough. Digital media literacy is a priority, and young people themselves are calling for better training. In Germany, the “Pilotes du Net” program relies on trained student ambassadors to raise awareness among their middle and high school peers about balanced screen use. In Finland, a tool called “The Hand of Mental Health” helps young people become aware of the impact of digital technology on their daily lives and their health. Similarly, local governments can get involved, as exemplified by the city of Bordeaux and its “Growing Up Healthy with Screens” initiative, which is part of the Local Health Contract.

Mind Map of Children’s and Youths’ Recreational Digital Uses

The purpose of this mind map is to illustrate the interactions among users—whether parents or children—recreational and educational uses, risks associated with screen use, and the interventions that can be implemented to guide usage and limit risks. 

For each category (users, uses, risks, interventions), the mind map outlines the findings from the literature and the actions taken by various stakeholders (government agencies, health professionals, educators, and nonprofit organizations). It describes the context of the *La Santé en action* issue No. 474 and clarifies its scope and limitations.