Pediatric experts in Italy urge parents to keep smartphones away from children under 13 and delay independent social media use until at least 16, highlighting increasing concerns over digital addiction and its impact on young minds.
Pediatricians in Italy are warning parents to keep personal smartphones away from children under 13 and to delay independent social media use until at least 16, as doctors increasingly see young patients struggling to disconnect from screens, chats and online validation.
The advice comes from Stefano Vicari, head of the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit at Rome’s Bambino Gesù Hospital, who said the concern is not only time spent online but the growing difficulty some children have in stopping. He argued that this is especially important during a sensitive stage of development, when habits around attention, sleep and emotional control are still forming.
The warnings sit against a broader backdrop of rising digital dependence among young Italians. Save the Children data cited by ANSA show that one in three children aged six to 10, or 33%, uses a smartphone every day, while 62% of those aged 11 to 13 already have at least one social media account. ANSA also reported in May that 13.5% of Italian adolescents show problematic social media use, with the highest rate among 13-year-old girls at 20.5%.
Doctors say the signs of trouble include repeatedly checking for a device, becoming upset when it is unavailable, withdrawing from other activities and allowing online habits to affect sleep, schoolwork or relationships. The concern now extends beyond social platforms and gaming, with some teenagers also turning to conversational artificial intelligence for personal support. Bambino Gesù has opened a clinic focused on problematic use of the internet and digital technologies, reflecting how quickly the issue is evolving.
In earlier guidance, the Italian Society of Paediatrics urged families to avoid unsupervised internet access before 13 and to postpone social media use even longer, recommending a stronger emphasis on outdoor activity, sport, reading and creative play. Other research has underlined the scale of the problem: an Italian National Institute of Health study reported this year that more than one in six young people aged 11 to 17 show risky behaviour linked to social media, gaming or gambling.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
