A child psychiatrist named Bruno Falissard has reviewed the scientific research on how screens affect children and teenagers, challenging the popular idea that young people are turning into "digital cretins." This discussion comes as the PISA 2025 results showed a sharp drop in the performance of 15-year-old students in France, particularly in mathematics and reading comprehension, with scores reaching some of the lowest levels ever recorded. These results have led to a wave of blame directed at screens, especially smartphones, and have sparked measures like a proposed ban on mobile phones in French middle and high schools, set to begin in the 2026 school year. French President Emmanuel Macron, after his plan to block access to social media for those under 15 was rejected by the Constitutional Council, appears to have found support from the European Commission. On September 16, 2026, the Commission introduced the Kids Act, a policy that sets limits on minors' access to social networks and regulates certain platforms, AI, and video games. In his book Ecran total: non, nos enfants ne sont pas des crétins digitaux (Robert Laffont, 2026), Falissard brings a more measured perspective to the debate, drawing on his clinical experience with young people and offering a comprehensive look at how screens influence children and adolescents. He playfully critiques the title of Michel Desmurget’s earlier work, La fabrique du crétin digital: les dangers des écrans pour nos enfants (Seuil, 2019), which warned about the dangers of screens for children. Falissard argues that the drop in attention among young people is not solely due to the rise of screens. He highlights other factors, such as early exposure to pornography, lack of physical activity, and inadequate sleep, which are equally, if not more, important than the time spent on social media. He also notes that the introduction of chatbots represents a major shift in human society, one that forces us to reconsider our cognitive superiority and what we truly value in our children. Falissard calls for a more nuanced and collaborative approach than the simple bans that political leaders have so far considered. He questions whether the decline in focused attention is inherently bad and whether screens are the sole cause. Research shows that young people respond more quickly and make more mistakes, but whether this is a negative trait depends on what we value. He also points out that young people are less punished for mistakes, which makes them more willing to respond quickly, a phenomenon that can be seen as positive. Falissard acknowledges the common fears about the impact of screens on children's physical and mental health. However, he notes that public discussions tend to focus on learning and attention. He suggests that instead of being concerned about their struggles with history lessons, we should consider what priorities we should set for raising children, given the world they will inherit—one shaped by climate change and artificial intelligence. Falissard also discusses the impact of pornography on young people, noting that most encounter such content at least once a week, often starting in primary school. He warns of the risks of addiction and the potential long-term consequences, emphasizing the need to talk about healthy relationships rather than simply banning screens. He is cautious about screen bans, pointing out that they can backfire due to a psychological phenomenon called "reactance," where taking away a freedom can lead to a stronger desire to have it. He also notes that banning screens in bedrooms is rarely effective. He discusses the relevance of France’s decision to ban phones in high schools and Macron’s proposal to restrict social media for those under 15, suggesting that while classroom bans make sense, their application in other areas is more complex. He argues that the real issue is not the screens themselves, but the economic models of attention that platforms like TikTok and Instagram use. Falissard highlights digital activities that can benefit families, such as video calls with loved ones, shared viewing experiences, and family video game sessions. He also discusses how children use conversational AI, noting that these systems are trained on vast amounts of data and can offer a kind of synthesized human interaction. However, he points out that unlike a human therapist, a chatbot never contradicts its user. Falissard concludes that the rise of conversational AI is a significant challenge, as it forces us to confront a loss of cognitive superiority. In a society that values human intelligence highly, AI is already surpassing us in many areas. He suggests that we must accept this shift and focus on how humans can coexist with AI and with the planet, rather than on pure intelligence.