Andorra Urges Legislation to Curb Children's Screen Overuse

The Association for the Defence of Youth at Risk has called for legislation to curb screen overuse among children in Andorra, while acknowledging the challenges of enforcing bans on social media for adolescents already active online.

Speaking at a talk on screens and social networks in Sant Julià de Lòria this week, association president Sandra Cano stressed the need for prevention through legal frameworks. "We must work extensively on prevention, and that means legislating," she said, highlighting everyday issues like handing screens to young children for distraction. Cano compared normalising such habits to allowing a child to hold a beer, urging efforts to educate families and prevent mental health problems linked to excessive use. Her group frequently deals with related cases, including sleep disorders.

This comes days after the Education Ministry released a survey of parents from Andorran schools, revealing that one in five children has suffered health issues from screens, mostly sleep disturbances. Over half of parents—54%—admitted their children use devices excessively.

The Andorran Schools Parents' Association (AMPAEA) responded by requesting a meeting with Andorra Recerca+Innovació (AR+I), which conducted the survey, to analyse results and explore collaboration. AMPAEA president Susagna Venable expressed frustration that the ministry did not share findings directly with families, who represent over 4,000 pupils. "Families are an important part," she said, while admitting parents also need education, as device use has "slipped out of our hands."

Schools are acting: Andorra is phasing out personal iPads in favour of centre-controlled devices, a move Venable welcomed after earlier warnings. In Encamp's secondary school, students now deposit mobiles in a box on arrival, retrieving them only at day's end. School leaders report benefits, including more playground interaction and communication—key to education.

Challenges persist. Cano noted smartphones as top gifts for first communions, creating entrenched habits. Venable questioned outright bans for under-16s as potentially ineffective. Xavier Campuzano, the ministry's technological innovation director, agreed restrictions are technically difficult to enforce.

The debate echoes global efforts, such as Australia's ban for under-16s, which faces evasion by tech-savvy teens. Consensus holds on action, but experts debate the best path forward.