Macron Calls for Monthly 'No Connection Day' for Youth
French President Emmanuel Macron advocated for the establishment of a monthly 'no connection day' for young people during a visit to the Cité internationale de la langue française in Villers-Cotterêts. Speaking to high school and college students, Macron emphasized the need to rediscover reading, sports, and the 'vitality of real life,' framing excessive screen time as stolen from personal development. He described digital devices using the Greek term 'pharmakon,' noting they can be educational tools but also poisonous additives leading to addiction and physical postural issues. This initiative complements his broader push to ban social networks for individuals under fifteen. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced plans to consult on launching this program in schools by September, aiming to influence family habits beyond the classroom. Although mobile phones are already restricted in many educational settings, the goal is to foster joint activities and reduce loneliness and inattention among adolescents. Macron further reinforced this agenda through a videoconference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking continental support for the proposed social media bans by the start of the next academic year.
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Macron Calls for Monthly 'No Connection Day' for Youth
French President Emmanuel Macron advocated for the establishment of a monthly 'no connection day' for young people during a visit to the Cité internationale de la langue française in Villers-Cotterêts. Speaking to high school and college students, Macron emphasized the need to rediscover reading, sports, and the 'vitality of real life,' framing excessive screen time as stolen from personal development. He described digital devices using the Greek term 'pharmakon,' noting they can be educational tools but also poisonous additives leading to addiction and physical postural issues. This initiative complements his broader push to ban social networks for individuals under fifteen. Education Minister Édouard Geffray announced plans to consult on launching this program in schools by September, aiming to influence family habits beyond the classroom. Although mobile phones are already restricted in many educational settings, the goal is to foster joint activities and reduce loneliness and inattention among adolescents. Macron further reinforced this agenda through a videoconference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking continental support for the proposed social media bans by the start of the next academic year.
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