French youth survey reveals dangers of screen addiction to road users

The risks of drugs and alcohol when it comes to driving are already well known.

However, a new study of young people in France has now underscored the danger of screens.

The Ipsos survey revealed 30% of moped users admitted to having watched a television series on their phone while riding.

Just as worrying, nearly two-out-of-three young people (65%) have telephoned, taken part in work telephone meetings, sent or read texts/emails, watched films/series, played games or consulted social media while travelling by car, motorbike, moped or bicycle.

The survey, targeting people aged 16-30, looked more broadly at the dangers of addiction, involving, as well as screens, drugs and alcohol.

Conducted between March 29 and April 10 this year and involving 3,500 people, it revealed 78% of respondents had lost control of themselves at least once in the past 12 months after consuming drugs or alcohol and 70% after watching a screen.

The “loss of control” regarding screens resulted in a loss of sense of time (61%) and difficulty falling asleep (47%).

In addition, nearly a third say that this loss of control led them to no longer respond to requests from those around them (32%) or developing vision problems (28%).

Read also: French MPs back social media age restrictions for teenagers

The reasons given for using drugs, alcohol and screens? Entertainment comes first, for 45% of screen users and 40% of alcohol drinkers, then the need to de-stress (43% vs 28%) and finally to feel good (28% vs 22%).

Ipsos says it is the third time such a survey on young people and addiction has been published and indicates the situation for young people is starting to stabilise.

“Consumption of drugs, alcohol, screens and risky behaviour on the road… the negative behaviour of young people is stabilising but remains worrying, a sign that the health crisis has weakened young French people and that their malaise is still present,” said Ipsos, summing up the survey results.

“Despite a return to ‘normal life’, this particularly sensitive segment of the population says they need to have fun, to de-stress, even if it means putting themselves in danger or losing control.”

The results of this survey come as the French government is planning to drop the legal driving age to 17 years, in line with other countries across Europe including Ireland and Slovakia.

One of the reasons for this change in the age a young person can pass their driving test in France is French President Emmanuel Macron’s wish to create one million more apprenticeships by 2027.

For many young people, not having a car is a real curb to signing up to the apprenticeship scheme.

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