Italy addresses youth digital welfare and social withdrawal

The Circolo Acli Lamberto Valli Aps has launched the third edition of Dialoghi Forlivesi, a program titled ‘Ri-Generazioni Urbane’. Running through August 2025, the initiative consists of 24 meetings involving 30 experts to focus on social welfare, urban regeneration, and the relationship between youth and modern technology, including artificial intelligence.

Parallel discussions regarding youth behavior in the digital age highlight the complexities of ‘Onlife’—a concept where digital and real worlds merge. Psychologist Matteo Lancini, president of the Minotauro Foundation, notes that online radicalization is often a symptom of social withdrawal. He suggests that young people frequently turn to online communities, including misogynistic or extremist groups, as a refuge from real-world societal issues and perceived failures in adult-led institutions.

The Dialoghi Forlivesi program aims to address these challenges through various modules, including sessions at the Liceo Fulcieri Paolucci and professional training courses, seeking to transform digital tools from perceived ‘prisons’ into conscious resources for the community.