Among 12-17 year olds, more than 9 out of 10 own a smartphone. How do the few teenagers who don’t have one do it? Are their relationships with friends and parents different? Franceinfo interviewed several of them.
“I think I must be the only one of all the students in terminals!” In her high school, Pauline* sometimes feels like the last of the Mohicans. At 17, the teenager has never owned a smartphone, or even a touch-tone cell phone. “I’ve never felt the need for it, and it doesn’t hinder me at all!”
Pauline’s profile is not unique, but it is disappearing. Among 12-17 year-olds, 96% owned a smartphone in France in 2023, an increase of five points compared to 2020, according to the Digital Barometer published by Arcep and Credoc. This trivialization is accompanied by concerns among some parents, as well as among politicians, who point out the negative effects that these devices could have on children and adolescents. To prevent this, some families are therefore choosing to delay this purchase for their offspring as much as possible.
But how can you live so against the grain? What are the lives of these young people and their relationships with others like? ? Franceinfo collected the testimonies of eight adolescents affected, by constraint or by choice, to better understand how this absence affects their daily lives.
Pierre’s* parents are among the lucky ones. Their son has neither the “need nor want” to be equipped with a smartphone, the 14-year-old teenager assures franceinfo. Like him, others recognize that the absence of a telephone has its benefits : it’s impossible to spend all your time on your screen when you don’t have one. Have a phone available “could prevent me from advancing in my studies”admits Karim*, 14, who explains that he is like this “less disturbed in [s]we work” than some comrades. “I’m afraid it will be a distraction that might interfere with healthier pursuits.”Pauline adds.
It must be said that there are many bad examples around them. “A teacher did a review in the class and some said they could spend 10 hours a day on it during the weekends!”Abel*, 12, is still surprised, “think and hope” that he wouldn’t do the same if he had a smartphone. “Some people tell their parents they need a smartphone to warn them [de leurs déplacements], and when I see them outside school, they are all on social media or playing games”sighs Karim with a hint of envy.
“I’ve seen people who got a smartphone and really changed, who became more withdrawn.”
Pierre, 14 years oldto franceinfo
More rarely, it is the environmental issue which justifies this abstinence. “Smartphones are not eco-friendly at all”denounces Océane*, 15 years old, who points out that these devices “use rare metals” whose extraction is very polluting. The young girl, whose parents work in the fields of culture, agriculture and associations, assures “approve” their choice to put off the smartphone until later.
But for other teenagers, the absence of a smartphone can quickly be experienced as a deprivation – including for those who understand the parental choice. Topics discussed on social networks, memes taken up everywhere on the internet, online games… For them, all the references shared by the group become distant, even inaccessible. “It’s a bit exclusive”regrets Ulysse*, 15, who confides having “created an Instagram account two months ago on the computer, for less [s]e feel left out”. “I feel like I’m missing out on a lot of thingsadds Erwan*, 14 years old. Topics of discussion that my friends talk about, references that I don’t have…”
Without an easy way to contact parents or friends, going out and socializing outside of class is also more difficult. “I admit that sometimes, when I’m out and I need to contact my parents, it’s complicated”concedes Pauline. “I think the telephone is important to improve children’s social lives. When they start high school, not having a telephone is going to be tough…”also assures Lucas*, 14 years old. Not to mention that some institutions sometimes act as if all children are equipped with them.
“In my gym, everything is online on the website or social networks, I can’t access anything myself”
“Even teachers sometimes assume that everyone has a smartphone and ask us to do research or take interactive quizzes in class.”Pauline emphasizes.
To remedy these drawbacks, some people try to change their parents’ minds. With varying degrees of success. “I often asked for one, but my parents always said no”Karim laments. “If I get a very good grade in my brevet, my parents told me I could get one.”Erwan rejoices for his part.
In order not to restrict their teenagers too much, some families give them other “screens”, such as a computer or a tablet, which allow them to access certain messaging platforms or online games with friends. But without setting rules, the behaviors they thought they were avoiding can come back through the back door. “I already spend two or three hours a day playing video games on my computer in my room, it’s a subject that comes up quite often with my parents”Ulysses concedes with a hint of regret. To limit the excesses, there is always the possibility of setting up parental controls, but they are not infallible either.
In other families, the smartphone is actually not far away: young people just use their parents’ or friends’ smartphone. “When I want to talk to my friends, it’s on my mother’s phone”describes Lucas.Since almost all my friends have a phone, if I have to tell my mother to go out, I ask theirs”says Karim.
There is also the unshakeable push-button or flip phone, with limited functionality by default. “I’ve had a touch-tone phone since sixth grade, so I can communicate with my parents when I leave home.”explains Erwan. But he is not popular either: “It’s really not practical, it takes us ages to write the slightest message!”the young man complains.
“My parents offered me a touch-tone phone, but I’m not interested. I want to be able to play with my friends.”
Lucas, 14 years oldto franceinfo
Some find more original (but more expensive) solutions, like Abel, whose parents chose an Apple smartwatch. “I can send messages to my contacts, not go on social networks, but that doesn’t interest me much.”
It is easier for teens to accept these limits when good conditions are met. For example, when the school is very close to home or when the child does not ask to go out regularly, which reduces the need for a phone for travel. It is also better that the adults around are not always glued to their screens themselves. “When my grandparents are next to each other, they play Scrabble on their smartphones!”exclaims Océane.
“My father spends his life on his computer. I try to tell him sometimes, but hey…”
Lucas, 14 years oldto franceinfo
Another common point of the teenagers interviewed by franceinfo who tolerate the absence of a smartphone: they have a busy schedule with many leisure activities. Abel regularly spends his afternoons at the teenagers’ club located next to his school, does judo and karate three evenings a week and reads a lot. A passion shared by Océane and Pauline, the latter also playing the harp and piano daily. Lucas plays the saxophone at the conservatory, athletics and learns foreign languages. Sometimes out of financial reach, or unavailable in certain geographic areas, these activities are nevertheless not accessible to everyone.
And it’s not enough to overload your child’s schedule to make them lose their desire for technology – nor to impose limits without negotiation. “The barriers really annoy me”plague Ulysses. “But I also stress about seeing my results drop because I play too much. I would like to work on getting there by myself.” Each family must find its own method.
* All names have been changed.