Health Minister wants to ban screens "from birth to three years"

The government is going on the offensive on the subject of screens this Thursday in the columns of the JDD through the voice of the Minister of Health and Solidarity, Catherine Vautrin. She reveals her plan to "ban exposure to screens for the youngest, from birth to the age of three".

Parallel with spanking

She further specifies that the said ban will apply "everywhere, including at home", even if it appears impossible to verify this, which the minister readily admits. She explains that her plan aims to "instill the idea that it is not done", like the "ban on spanking", which has gradually made this practice socially unacceptable. "The police didn't go to the homes to check if the ban was being enforced, but the fact of proclaiming it ended up entrenching the idea that you don't hit a child, even with a light spanking," the minister added.

Indeed, regarding screens, the health record given at birth has already recommended avoiding screens before the age of 3 since 2018, but the practice still persists in many homes. The ban could undoubtedly raise awareness, even if it largely saves the expense of a broader policy of supporting families.

More broadly, such a measure seems very complicated to implement in practice, a trend towards which politicians are definitely moving at the moment. As highlighted by numerous reactions on social media, it raises many questions: how to operate in a family with children of different ages, what about videoconferencing with grandparents? What should be done about advertising screens in public spaces, on public transport, etc.

A decree for professionals

For the time being, Catherine Vautrin has not specified whether she wishes to pursue the issue in the context of an official bill. However, she indicated that she plans to publish "in the coming weeks" a "decree banning screens in places where children under three years old". Here again, the question arises: will childminders and other childcare professionals have to place their smartphones in a bag when entering their workplace? The minister believes that the measure should give them "an even stronger basis for advising parents.".

In April 2024, a commission of experts had already submitted conclusions to the Head of State, strongly advising against the use of screens between the ages of 3 and 6 and calling for the banning of smartphone use before the age of 13.

Source: JDD