Italy tackles youth screen addiction with consumer guide and Senate bill

The consumer association Dalla Parte del Consumatore released a practical vademecum to curb social‑media dependence among minors and their parents. The guide, drafted by a network of psychologists and promoted through a phone helpline and pharmacy desks, cites its own monitoring that 59% of Italian youth are caught in compulsive scrolling, 44% spend more than four hours online daily and 64% feel anxiety when their phone is not nearby.

In parallel, the Italian Senate is considering a bill introduced by Senator Simona Malpezzi, backed by the Italian Society of Pediatrics and the foundation Terre des Hommes Italia, to prohibit smartphone use for children under three years of age. The proposal references research linking early screen exposure to cognitive and language delays, increased risk of obesity, sleep disturbances and future digital‑dependency. Pediatric experts such as Rino Agostiniani warn that the first years of life require real‑world interaction for healthy brain development.