December 17, 2025
Paris, France
Dear all,
I would like to share an invitation to our Study Day/Stakeholder Event — Growing Up in the Digital Age: Five Years of European Research on Screens and Adolescent Mental Health. Please note that this event will be held in French, and is intended primarily for a French-speaking audience (researchers, practitioners, institutions, and organizations working with young people in France).
Topic: How do digital media shape young people’s well-being and mental health today? Growing up in 2025 means navigating daily between smartphones, social networks, online gaming, and platforms like Spotify. While these digital practices can boost some adolescents’ self-esteem, they can also heighten anxiety for others. Understanding why these effects occur—and for whom—has never been more essential.
Since 2020, researchers from KU Leuven (Belgium), the University of Tours (France), and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) have been conducting the international MIMIc project (coordinated by Prof. Laura Vandenbosch), funded by the European Research Council (ERC). The project examines the digital habits of more than 2,700 adolescents aged 12 to 18 in Belgium, Slovenia, and France — including over 800 in France alone.
Our research focuses on two central questions:
- Do young people imitate the lifestyles they see on social media and entertainment platforms, and what does this mean for their mental health?
- How do their favorite influencers convey political and moral messages that may, in turn, shape adolescents’ beliefs and behaviors?
As we conclude this project, we are pleased to invite you to our study day, which will take place on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Deskeo République – 32 Rue René Boulanger, 75010 Paris (with an option to join online, though in-person attendance is encouraged).
This event aims to bring scientific findings into dialogue with educational practice and emerging regulatory frameworks, including the Digital Services Act. It will bring together researchers, institutional stakeholders, education professionals, and youth-focused organisations. Confirmed speakers include Prof. Grégoire Borst (Université Paris Descartes), Arthur Tréguier (DSA Officer for France, European Commission) and Mrs Axelle Desaint (director of Internet Sans Crainte).
You will find all relevant materials attached and listed below:
Mandatory registration link: https://forms.gle/TeZNqqU4TX15mnQE8
LinkedIn invitation: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anaellegonzalez_dsa-jeunesetaezcrans-recherche-activity-7403732183112241152-jvTN
We look forward to sharing our findings and engaging in discussion with all stakeholders committed to supporting young people in their digital lives.
