“Promote reading and exchange with others”: French President Macron is planning an “offline day” for young people

He will remind people of the central importance of reading, which promotes openness and equal opportunities. Macron intends to use the opportunity to be interviewed by students.

How often there should be an offline day according to Macron’s ideas was not stated on Wednesday. According to a study published on Tuesday, young French people between the ages of seven and 19 currently spend three hours a day on screens and just 18 minutes reading. For 16 to 19 year olds, screen time increases to a good five hours a daythe time for reading shrinks to 14 minutes.

The French President has taken up the fight against excessive screen time. France also wanted to be the first country in Europe to ban social media for children and young people under the age of 15. The Senate has already passed a corresponding legislative proposal, but it still has to go through the mediation committee. The aim is to better protect the mental health of children and young people.

About 15 countries are currently moving to restrict minors’ access to social media, including Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Norway, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Such an approach is also being examined in Germany.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday the imminent use of a European app for efficient age control online. This is intended to make it possible to block porn offers and online services such as Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube for children.