The commission appointed by the President of the Republic to make proposals on the regulation of digital media submitted its report on 29 April[1]. Despite the many criticisms voiced, notably about how hard the measures concerning teenagers would be to apply, this report sets out useful milestones.
First of all, it opportunely sounds the alarm on the growing power of the opaque algorithms used by the GAFAM[2] to manipulate our representations and our behaviour. But above all, it reaffirms the importance of digital and media education without ignoring the desirable bans.
Thus the ban on screens before the age of three and the choice of suitable programmes up to the age of six are insistently recalled. Likewise, mobile phones without internet access until 13 would not hinder education about the pitfalls of digital technology by individuals and institutions that wish to provide it before that age, since it would still be possible to access the internet via a connected tablet or computer, notably in school and association settings. On the other hand, it would considerably reduce minors’ access to pornography and the risk that some, particularly vulnerable ones, engage in harmful practices on social networks from the age of 9 or 10.
The report also mentions the need to provide uniform information for films and video games. This corresponds exactly to one of the proposals I made in 2019 in my report[3] submitted to the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC). In it I proposed the creation, alongside the classification commission that currently rules on banning films to minors, of a classification commission for children’s films. Its role would be to inform parents, with indicative ages and explanatory pictograms (on the model of those used in the video game field), about the possible dangers of works that are not banned for under-12s. Indeed, there is currently no age or content indication on the films and cartoons offered to children, to the point that, in view of the official recommendations, everything broadcast on television in the slot after 8 p.m. seems to be authorised for all audiences. Parents can therefore legitimately consider that they bear no responsibility, since no one can be held responsible for the decisions they take unless they have the means to decide in full knowledge of the facts. The recommendation of the commission convened by Mr Macron makes this creation even more necessary.
Finally, in its proposal number 22, the commission mentions the creation of alternatives to screens. Although this is not specified, this mention may allow family associations and elected officials of all persuasions to demand that playgrounds, gyms and sports grounds belonging to schools be opened every Saturday and Sunday. This would not only create alternatives to screens for all the children who need to move their bodies and see their friends at the weekend, but also foster social bonds between families from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
[1] Available on the Élysée website : https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/16/fbec6abe9d9cc1bff3043d87b9f7951e62779b09.pdf
[2] Acronym used to refer to Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft.
[3] https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/etudes-et-rapports/rapport/quelles-protections-pour-les-mineurs-dans-laudiovisuel-a-lere-dinternet_1130002
