The negative impacts of too much screen time are well established, including higher anxiety, disrupted sleep, and reduced focus.
As the risks of excessive digital consumption become increasingly clear, the ability to disconnect is turning into a luxury. Could unplugging from the internet soon be something only the privileged can afford? According to Ouest France, nearly one in five French citizens in 2025 expressed a desire to reduce their digital usage, while Statista reported that 9 per cent wanted to cut down their time on social media.
This reflects a broader trend: average daily screen time continues to climb, exceeding five hours, raising alarms among civil society, researchers, and policymakers alike. In fact, last April, former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal even described the situation as a “state of emergency against screens.”
A collective awakening
Beyond the widespread discomfort of feeling constantly connected through screens, a deeper awareness is emerging. Since the late 2010s, numerous studies have criticized “captology” — the practice by which major platforms leverage behavioral science to capture users’ attention through interface design and algorithmic optimization.
