Childhood under pressure: Is there a national interest for ages 0–6 in North Macedonia?

Public debate in North Macedonia has intensified over how early exposure to digital platforms is reshaping childhood, with scholars and parents asking whether the state should treat ages 0–6 as a distinct national priority.

At a recent roundtable triggered by a new book, Prof. Dr. Kiril Barbareev argued that children are entering virtual life far earlier than previous generations and that adults must act to restore a healthier daily rhythm for young children. "Children's childhoods are greatly accelerated and the boundary of childhood is severely shortened. They enter the virtual world very early, they come into contents and activities that they do not have the capacity to understand the meaning of what they see. Because of that I think adults, institutions, parents must be very proactive, we must educate ourselves a lot in order to succeed in creating a higher-quality daily rhythm for children," he said, identified as the author of the book "The Crisis of Childhood: The Lost Spirit of Childhood and the Meaning of Play."

Researchers present at the discussion warned that social networks do not only provide entertainment for children but also models of behaviour and content that can influence upbringing. Family and schools are described as being in a constant race to retain influence over children's development.

Is there a national strategy for the youngest children?

"Ultimately the question arises whether there is a national interest for the age group 0 to 6 years in Macedonia," asked Prof. Dr. Lena Damevska of the Faculty of Philosophy, Skopje, pointing to a policy gap that could require coordinated action by state institutions, educators and parents.

The panel noted that European states are already debating stricter rules for children and social media. Last week the European Commission proposed that children under 13 should not have access to social networks, while 14-year-olds would be limited to parental-supervised, restricted profiles.

Speakers called for shared responsibility: more proactive institutional regulation, parent education, and research-driven guidance to ensure that early childhood development is protected from inappropriate digital exposure.

Photo: press material from the event