"I wish I could forget it": Phone addiction persists even during vacations

"I wish I could forget it..." It's hard to enjoy the sun with all those ringtones. Even during the summer, it's not easy to let go of your cell phone, a real mobile, a real attention magnet . According to numerous studies, nearly one in two French people are addicted to their phones. It's difficult, if not impossible, to truly disconnect, even lying on your towel.

Design, image, signals... All products are designed to attract users' attention. "They get caught in the trap of captology," explains Sylvie Dieu Osika, pediatrician and founder of the collective Surexposition écran , a guest on Anaïs Matin . "It's a system we're all victims of. Cognitive psychologists have tried to find every system to capture our attention. It's now the economic model we're in. Products are deliberately designed to never let go."

Children are among the most affected by this addiction, which can have serious repercussions. According to a recent Opinion Way study, 44% of parents say their child will spend part of the holidays in front of screens. "We're giving a product that is addictive by nature, both to adults and children," the pediatrician laments on RMC . "This degrades their mental and physical health. Concretely, children have a lot of things to learn during their first years: speaking, eating, walking... And all of this is stolen time."

So for the holidays, some decide to turn everything off. "I'm going to a place where, in fact, there's very little internet connection," smiles François. "If I want to have access to the internet, I'll have to walk a good fifteen minutes." A digital break that Aimé is also looking for, who reduces his notifications. "I try to filter. Sometimes I turn everything off, and for several days, I don't receive any notifications."

Despite efforts, it remains difficult for the vast majority to do without it. "Even with precautions, it remains omnipresent," Dorothée despairs. This constant presence is a danger to our mental health. It is therefore essential to make the effort to cut everything out sometimes. "It's very good for paying attention to others," emphasizes Béatrice Copper-Rayer, a clinical psychologist. "It's a good way to prove to yourself that you're not addicted."

The best way out of this trap? "Everyone outside!" insists Sylvie Dieu Osika. All that's left is to enjoy the sun... and put down your phones for a while.