Podcast: student poverty, kids and social media, a French woman in Tibet

Podcast: student poverty, kids and social media, a French woman in Tibet

From Spotlight on France by RFI English

February 12, 2026 · 33 min · Episode 140

About this episode

The episode discusses student poverty in France, reactions to a proposed social media ban for children, and the life of French explorer Alexandra David-Néel in Tibet.

Community meals for students in France, who are increasingly facing hardship. Kids react to France's proposed social media ban for the under-15s. And the French explorer who became the first Western woman to travel to deepest Tibet. Recent data shows one in two university students in France are skipping a meal each day and relying on food handouts. In response, the government is extending a 1-euro meal scheme – introduced during Covid for those on bursaries – to all university students as of May. Student union rep Marian Bloquet outlines why the problems go far beyond food. We also report from the Cop1ne community kitchen in Paris. Run by students for students, it provides cheap, home-cooked food, but also company and solidarity. (Listen @3'20'') As France prepares to ban children from social media , kids weigh in on their use of the platforms and how they would like to see them regulated. Cybersecurity expert Olivier Blazy considers the technical challenges and privacy issues raised by such a ban. (Listen @20'20'') The adventurous life of the French explorer Alexandra David-Néel, who in the winter of 1924 became the first European woman to reach Lhasa, Tibet's "forbidden city"…

People in this episode

Host: RFI English

Guest: Marian Bloquet

Topics covered

  • student poverty
  • social media ban
  • community meals
  • youth perspectives
  • exploration
  • Tibet

Keywords

  • student meals
  • social media
  • youth
  • Tibet
  • Alexandra David-Néel
  • community kitchen
  • France
  • poverty

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cop1ne

Places: France, Tibet, Lhasa

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