He collected more than 10 thousand in two days sign the petition launched on Change.org from the Psychopedagogical Center for Education and Conflict Management. Among the first signatories, several experts, including pedagogists and psychotherapists, but also famous people from the entertainment worldunited on a common front: asking the government to ban the use of smartphones before the age of 14 and the ability to open a social profile before the age of 16.
«It is now clear that before the age of 14, having a personal smartphone can be very harmful, as can opening a personal profile on social media before the age of 16», it is written in the text of the petition. «Ours is not an anti-technological position but the acceptance of what neuroscience has now demonstrated: there are areas of the brain, fundamental for cognitive learning, that do not develop fully if the minor brings into the digital world activities and experiences that he should instead live in the real world».
Do we really need a law?
So is there really a need for a law that prohibits the use of smartphones by minors under 14?
«The meaning of this petition, which requires legal intervention certainly very difficult to implement, it was also that of launching a provocationwhich turned out to be very powerful, given the debate that has sparked»he explains to us Alberto Pellai, developmental psychotherapist and researcher, among the first signatories of the petition. «If until recently the use of smartphones by children was a topic of educational naturetoday we move to the legal field, because it has become a public health issue. We have mental health indicators for developmental age, never so worn out as at this moment: it means that, compared to the past, there was something that had a really strong impact on the mental functioning of the kids. Especially in the 10-14 age group, an age in which one is particularly vulnerable to entering online not to take the best but the worst. A worst that then does a lot of harm to the kids. This is what leads to the question of whether the use of smartphones and the presence of minors on social media should not be regulated with the same approach used for tobacco, alcohol and gambling».
The petition talks about direct risks and indirect risks linked to the use of smartphones during developmental age. What are the main dangers?
«The research has highlighted four phenomena in particular connected to the early use of the smartphone – explains Alberto Pellai. – The sleep deprivation, social deprivation, there fragmentation of attention, which has repercussions on the ability to concentrate and focus on the taskand finally the addictionor rather the dependence. Research tells us that these phenomena are detectable among minors, in an increased manner compared to 10 or 20 years ago. We are not saying that early use of smartphones is the cause of this, but which contributes significantly».
The risks of social media
The petition also asks for prohibit the possibility of opening a social profile before the age of 16. The risks involved? Also on this front, there has been a lot of research conducted.
«Today we know that have a social profile before the age of 16 It has a very strong impact on self-esteem and the perception of one’s body image, It also contributes to the development of anxiety which, if on the one hand is physiological in developmental age, with social media risks exceeding the safety levels”, explains Pellai. “Research indicates that girls who manage a social profile before the age of 16 have a 40-50% higher risk of developing a series of issues related to anxiety about one’s body image and self-esteem. We are no longer in the realm of opinions, these are scientific evidences.”
A law banning smartphones could be a help therefore also for parents who often do not know how to manage the issue of ‘smartphones for children’?
«The petition aims to bring to Italy a series of questions that are very important for those who raise boys and girls in the third millennium”, concludes Pellai, who has addressed these issues in many booksthe last of which is Training for life published by Mondadori. «Parents often have the perception that their children’s use of smartphones and social media is harmful, but just as often they are unable to impose the limit because “all the other classmates have it, everyone does it” … If a law gives a general indication to everyonethe family has a stronger reference to make the right decision.”
…The law is useful but be careful
«The issue is very broad», explains on the other hand Professor Giuseppe LaveniaPresident of theNational Association of Technology Addictions as well as among the leading experts in digital education. «A law that makes present to parents and children that we are talking about a tool, the smartphone, and apps, such as those for accessing social media, which can be addictive it is very important. This is certainly a public health issue: it is therefore it is right to make it clear, also with a regulation on the matter, that technological dependence is equal to other dependencies and it can be as harmful as other addictions. But there is another issue we need to pay attention to: there is a risk that a law that comes from above ends up depriving parents of their responsibility».
Proper education is also needed
«Not to mention that even if a law of this type were to arrive, it would not be a definitive solution”, Professor Lavenia continues «Because in any case, first and foremost, the ones who should ensure that the legislation is respected should be the parents».
So what to do?
«The solution does not come only with laws but with the education that we should introduce starting from primary school – claims Lavenia, who has dedicated her new book to the topic Digital Parents – Practical guide to educate children from 0 to 10 years to a conscious use of new technologies (De Agostini) and who together with Roberta Bruzzone also signed the volume The digital license for safe navigation (Murcia).
«If I had to think of a law on the matter, I I would rather introduce the obligation of a digital license – concludes the psychotherapist – a journey that the parent takes together with the childas if it were a sort of driving instructor. If we think about it, even to drive, it is not enough to be 18 years old, the age at which brain maturity is reached, but you need the knowledge and skills that you get with a driving licenseGiving smartphones to children indiscriminately certainly has risks, first of all that of developing a dependence. But Which parent can really ban their child from using a smartphone?? So here it is, To prevent this, we need to focus on education rather than on bans».
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
