Italy is preparing to open its first specialized center dedicated to preventing digital addiction among children and teenagers, choosing an education and prevention-focused strategy instead of restricting young people’s access to social media. The initiative will begin in Florence after the summer of 2026 and will initially operate as a pilot program through the end of the year.
The project, called Discover – Out of the Shell, was established through an agreement signed on July 21 by the Hospital of Santa Nuova and several public and community partners. According to the organizations involved, the center will focus on preventing excessive or unhealthy use of digital technologies while encouraging young people to develop healthier habits online.
Rather than treating technology as something to avoid entirely, the initiative aims to promote responsible, conscious, and creative use of digital tools. Organizers say the program is intended to help children and teenagers build a balanced relationship with technology instead of relying on restrictive measures.
Florence Councilor for Youth Policies Letizia Perini said digital technologies have become an integral part of everyday life for younger generations and offer significant educational and social opportunities. She said the goal is to help young people find a healthier balance between time spent online and activities such as spending time with family and friends, participating in sports, engaging in cultural events, and sharing experiences within their communities.
The pilot program is scheduled to begin after the summer and continue through December 2026. During that period, organizers plan to evaluate how the initiative works in practice before determining its future development.
A key part of the project is creating a network that brings together organizations already working with children and teenagers throughout Florence. Schools, youth centers, sports clubs, libraries, civic spaces, educational institutions, and community organizations are expected to participate, allowing prevention efforts to extend beyond healthcare settings into everyday environments where young people spend their time.
Officials say this collaborative model is intended to identify problematic technology habits early and encourage healthier digital behavior before more serious issues develop. By involving educators, families, healthcare professionals, and local organizations, the project seeks to provide consistent support instead of relying on a single institution.
Valerio Mari, a director at ASL Toscana Centro, said cooperation between participating organizations will be central to the program. According to Mari, continuous coordination among public services and prevention activities is more effective when responsibility is shared across the community rather than placed solely on schools or healthcare providers.
He also emphasized that the initiative is built around prevention instead of prohibitions. Organizers hope that educating young people about healthy technology habits will produce more sustainable results than simply limiting access to digital platforms.
The Florence project comes as governments in several countries continue debating how to address concerns about excessive social media use among children and teenagers. While some policymakers have favored age restrictions and platform bans, Italy’s pilot initiative focuses on education, awareness, and community support.
France recently introduced legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from accessing major social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Under the new rules, platforms are required to implement age-verification systems approved by the country’s privacy regulator before allowing access to younger users.
Australia adopted a similar approach in late 2025 by introducing restrictions aimed at limiting social media access for minors. However, critics of the measure have argued that many teenagers have continued using social media despite the new rules, raising questions about how effectively such bans can be enforced.
Florence’s initiative represents a different strategy by attempting to reduce problematic technology use through education, prevention, and community involvement rather than limiting access to digital services. The pilot program is expected to run until December 2026, when participating organizations will assess its results and determine the next steps for the project.