Pediatricians call for higher age limits due to rising digital addiction

Pediatricians are raising alarms regarding the increasing number of children and adolescents seeking specialist services for social media and web addiction. Stefano Vicari, head of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry at Bambino Gesù Hospital, noted that recent clinical visits have included youths aged 8 to 17 presenting with established digital dependency disorders.

Experts link intensive smartphone and social media use to anxiety, depression, and developmental issues driven by platform algorithms and immediate reward mechanisms. While there is support for proposals to limit platform access for those under 14, medical professionals are advocating for an extension of these restrictions up to age 16, aligning with scientific recommendations.

In Roseto degli Abruzzi, local health authorities and the municipality have clarified that a facility on via Adriatica will not host a drug addiction center, as had been rumored. Instead, the site will host a new service dedicated to behavioral addictions, including pathological gambling, gaming, and problematic internet use, specifically designed to support local youth and families.