Expert criticism of smartphone bans: "Non-technical populism"
Instead of debating bans, politicians should safeguard media education for children and young people, demand the children's charity and media educators.
(Image: Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock.com)
Debates on banning smartphones are always popular in politics. Just yesterday, Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt called for a significant restriction on the use of smartphones by adolescents in an FAZ guest article (paid).
Criticism of debates on bans
The German Children's Fund and the Society for Media Education and Communication Culture (GMK) criticize debates on banning smartphone use among children and young people: they would consider neither the current technical conditions nor the living environments of the young generation, but would at best exacerbate social inequalities.
Instead of bans, the associations are calling for a comprehensive education offensive in the media sector, starting in kindergarten. Politicians must ensure that media education is binding, both structurally and financially.
“The current debates on bans are increasingly characterized by populism unrelated to the subject,” criticizes Kai Hanke, Managing Director of Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk. Bans would shift responsibility to parents who are already overburdened with media education. “Instead, digital self-determination, a critical approach to media and creative media use must be encouraged,” says Hanke. Politicians should not leave young people or families on their own.
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Digital pact for media education
The associations are calling on politicians to develop the Digital Pact 2.0 announced in the coalition agreement into a Digital Pact for Media Education. There is an urgent need for framework conditions that go beyond infrastructure, maintenance, and technology-centered training. According to the associations, this includes:
- Compulsory staff with comprehensive media education qualifications in all educational institutions,
- the promotion of cooperation with non-school organizations and
- age-appropriate concepts and quality standards for early childhood media education.
“Only a digital pact that takes a comprehensive approach to education will ensure digital participation right from the start,” explains the GMK.
(dgi)
