Deliberation of July 22, 2008 aimed at protecting children under 3 from the effects of television.

Deliberation no. 2008-85 of July 22, 2008 by the French Superior Audiovisual Council aimed at protecting children under 3 from the effects of television, in particular services presented as specifically designed for them


Articles 1 and 15 of the French Superior Audiovisual Council's Freedom of Communication Act of September 30, 1986 entrust it with the task of ensuring the protection of children and adolescents. The Conseil is also responsible for preventing public order problems, one of which is public health. As such, it is responsible for taking measures to ensure that very youngsters are protected from programs likely to hinder their development.

In particular, the health and childhood experts browsed by the Council believe that, under the age of 3, exchanges and stimulation with people are essential to children's healthy development. Such exchanges and interactions cannot be replaced by television. On the contrary, the experts browsed point out that television consumption is detrimental to the development of children under 3, and presents a number of risks by encouraging passivity, language delays, agitation, sleep and concentration disorders, as well as screen addiction.

In its opinion of April 16, 2008 on the impact of TV channels on toddlers (0-3 years), the French Ministry of Health considers the concept of a TV program suitable for children under 3 to be irrelevant. The scientific basis of children's cognitive and psychic development tends to show that television programs specifically designed for very youngsters have no beneficial effect on their psychomotor and emotional development. On the contrary, the available studies underline the risk associated with the consumption of television images on the birth and development of thought processes and imagination, on the integration of emotions and on psychomotor development. To develop their physical, psychomotor, cognitive and emotional capacities, children need to actively use their five senses and rely on a relationship with an available adult. The French Ministry of Health has come out against the diffusion of specific channels for children under the age of 3, and in particular has given notice that companies marketing programs aimed at youngsters must not claim benefits for children's health or development that have not been scientifically proven.

In the same notice, the French Ministry of Health advises against the consumption of television up to the age of 3, regardless of the type of program. For children over 3 years of age, however, television use must be particularly cautious. To make adults aware of all these risks, we need to provide them with accurate information.

The French Minister of Health has made this scientific opinion public.

In view of this, the Conseil supérieur de l'a udiovisuel is responsible for taking the necessary steps to protect the health and development of youngsters, especially those under 3, who are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of television.

It is therefore appropriate, on the one hand, to regulate the distribution of television services presented as specifically designed for children under 3 and, on the other, to demand that television service editors inform their viewers about the harmful effects of television on these children.

I. The distribution of television services presented as specifically designed for children under the age of three

The present deliberation applies to distributors established in France and marketing a television service presented as specifically designed for children under the age of 3.

A. Subscriber information

1. On-screen information

Distributors must regularly inform their subscribers, in the form of their choice, in an easily legible and accessible way, on the distributor's screen and on the publisher's screen, of the following warning message:

" This is a message from the Conseil supérieur de l'a udiovisuel and the Ministry of Health:

Watching TV can hinder the development of children under 3, even when the channels are specifically aimed at them ".

2. Off-screen information

a) Information on communication media

On all off-screen communication media at their disposal (subscriber newsletters, Internet, etc.), distributors must include the following explanatory message when listing a channel specifically designed for children under 3:

" This is a message from the Conseil supérieur de l'a udiovisuel and the French Ministry of Health: Watching TV, including channels presented as specifically designed for children under 3, can lead to developmental disorders such as passivity, language delays, agitation, sleep disorders, concentration problems and screen addiction ".

This information may take the form of a footnote.

b) Contract employee information

The same information must also appear legibly, in a font size at least as large as that provided for the other stipulations, in the general terms and conditions of sale or the subscription contract for a supply including a channel specifically intended for children under 3.

B. Service promotion

Distributors may not promote, directly or indirectly, the alleged health, educational or teaching virtues of television services presented as specifically designed for children under 3.

II. Television services and the protection of children under the age of 3

The present deliberation applies to publishers established in France within the meaning of article 43-2 of the law of September 30, 1986.

A - Informing viewers about the harmful effects of television on children under the age of 3

Each year, the French Superior Audiovisual Council, in partnership with the French Ministry of Health, uses the communication media at its disposal (website, Lettre du French Superior Audiovisual Council, press releases, etc.) to organize a campaign designed to raise public awareness of the dangers of television for children under three.

The campaign aims to develop information based on two findings established by health and children's experts:
- television programs of all kinds are not suitable for children under 3;
- television can encourage developmental disorders in children under 3, such as passivity, language delays, agitation, sleep disorders, concentration problems and screen addiction.

As part of this campaign, the publishers will inform viewers, on air and in the form of their choice, of the information made available to them by the Council on the dangers presented by television for children under 3.

In consultation with publishers, the Conseil sets the start and end dates for this campaign. These dates are communicated to the publishers at least three months before the launch of the campaign.

B - Television programs presented as specifically designed for children under 3 years of age

Publishers may not show or promote, on their airwaves or in any other medium, programs specifically aimed at children under 3.

III. Information for the French Superior Audiovisual Council

Each year, the publishers and distributors covered by this resolution provide the French Superior Audiovisual Council with a report on the implementation of the measures provided for. This report shall specify any difficulties encountered in implementing the scheme.

The present resolution will be published in the Journal officiel de la République française and will be effective from November 1, 2008.

Paris, July 22nd 2008
For the French Superior Audiovisual Council,
The Chairman,
Michel BOYON

Browse the French health authority's opinion on the impact of TV channels on very young children (0-3 years).