by InTrieste
Interview: FVG councilor for health, Riccardo Riccardi
Concerned about the rising time children and adolescents spend in front of screens, health officials in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region have launched an initiative aimed at helping parents navigate what experts describe as one of the most pressing health challenges of the digital age.
The project, which involves the region’s network of family pediatricians and the Burlo Garofolo Children’s Hospital in Trieste, focuses on prevention, awareness, and education. Its goal: to reduce the risks of what doctors call “hyperconnection” by promoting healthier, more conscious use of digital devices.
“Excessive screen use can have negative effects on vision, even contributing to myopia, as well as delays in language development, lack of physical activity, and increased anxiety and depression linked to poor sleep,” said Luca Ronfani, a pediatrician at Burlo Garofolo.
The program is designed to collect data by age group, with particular attention to the first 1,000 days of a child’s life — a period specialists say is critical for cognitive and emotional development. It also emphasizes training for both health care professionals and educators, who are often the first to notice early warning signs.
“This is about offering parents alternatives to screen-related behaviors, starting from regular pediatric checkups,” said Marco Grollo, another physician at the Trieste-based research hospital.
Regional health councillor Riccardo Riccardi, who announced the plan, said it has been allocated 150,000 euros in funding. The effort, he added, is not only about monitoring children’s habits but also about fostering a cultural shift in how families approach technology in daily life.
