Anxiety, social isolation, emotional and behavioral difficulties have become so frequent that they are putting pressure on healthcare systems, which must expand their support and care services more rapidly.
This trend is clearly visible in major children’s hospitals. For instance, at Florence’s Meyer Pediatric Hospital, psychiatric admissions have significantly increased within just a few years. Similarly, requests for specialist consultations in emergency departments are steadily rising.
These numbers reveal a silent yet profound transformation: mental suffering during childhood and adolescence is no longer an exception, but a reality society must confront daily.
Screens and constant connection: a difficult balance
Among the factors most often linked to this growing distress is early and prolonged exposure to digital devices. Smartphones, tablets, computers, and social networks have become integral parts of daily life, often without real adult supervision.
Excessive screen use, especially in early developmental stages, has been associated with sleep disturbances, attention problems, increased anxiety, and relational fragility. The amount of screen time plays a crucial role: even small daily increases can significantly affect children’s cognitive and emotional well-being.
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The new pediatric guidelines
In this context, the guidelines recently issued by the Italian Society of Pediatrics have sought, for the first time, to define clearer reference points for the age and conditions of digital access. After an extensive review of scientific literature, pediatricians have stated that personal smartphone use before the age of 13 is not appropriate, effectively establishing a minimum threshold for independent access to the internet.
These recommendations stem from the observation that early and intensive exposure to digital devices can affect psychophysical development — increasing anxiety levels, disturbing sleep, slowing cognition, and impairing relationships.
More cautiously, they suggest postponing access to social networks until adulthood, emphasizing that the emotional maturity required to manage such environments does not coincide with mere technological competence. The goal is not to prohibit but to protect a stage of growth when the brain is still developing.
The problems of hyperconnection
One of the most paradoxical aspects of the digital world is that, while it promises constant connection, it can foster a growing sense of loneliness. Screen-mediated communication risks gradually replacing direct experience, reducing real interaction and emotional exchange.
For the most vulnerable, unregulated device use can turn into a form of addiction, profoundly affecting how they perceive themselves and others. In such cases, social withdrawal is not just a temporary response but becomes a stable way of protecting oneself from the outside world.
Warning signs include agitation when the phone is unavailable, difficulty parting from it even briefly, and an increasing inability to tolerate silence or boredom. This dependence on constant connection can fuel anxiety, irritability, and confusion.
Added to this is early exposure to content not suitable for their age, which can interfere with the development of identity, emotional awareness, and social perception.
The role of adults
In this scenario, the role of adults is crucial — not only as regulators of technology use but as behavioral models. Children and teenagers learn by observing: if they see adults constantly absorbed by screens, it will be difficult for them to imagine credible alternatives.
To guide means not only to set rules but also to explain, share, and offer different experiences.
In this context, it becomes increasingly important to give children quality time, spaces of real presence, and opportunities for genuine listening — alternatives to screens that nurture attention, imagination, and relationships.
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