Italy considers social media age limits as 77% of teenagers admit phone addiction

According to the Euronews, around 100,000 young people aged 15 to 18 are at risk of social media addiction. An additional 500,000 are estimated to suffer from gaming disorder—a compulsive dependence on online games recognized as a medical condition by the World Health Organization in 2019. These figures also highlight how aware young people themselves are of the problem.

The organization Con i Bambini, which has supported more than 800 projects across Italy as part of the National Fund for Combating Educational Poverty among children, has been monitoring the phenomenon for some time. Educational poverty and difficulties in family relationships are among the main drivers of digital addiction.

The issue is also debated internationally. Last November, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a minimum age of 16 to access social platforms. France and Italy are considering laws to prohibit social media use for those under 15, with a similar initiative under discussion in Spain. Experts warn that while bans can act as a protective measure, they cannot replace structured educational approaches.

Alarm is largely being voiced by parents. A survey conducted by Con i Bambini with the Demopolis Institute found that 83% of Italian adults fear teenagers’ addiction to the internet, smartphones, and tablets.