by InTrieste
Massimiliano Fedriga, governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia, has called for a ban on smartphones for children under 14, arguing that digital addiction can undermine young people’s education, social lives and long-term well-being.
Speaking at the Festival of Regions in Florence, Fedriga, who heads Italy’s Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, described the proposal as an “impact measure” intended to alert families to the risks of excessive smartphone use.
“We are not going to send the police into people’s homes” to enforce such a restriction, he said, arguing that the priority was to improve public awareness.
Fedriga pointed to cases of young people withdrawing from social contact and isolating themselves in their rooms, warning that the consequences could extend well beyond school performance.
President Sergio Mattarella also attended the festival, praising the work of regional and local governments, particularly in health care.
