The Italian Society of Pediatrics has (finally) updated its recommendations on digital use in childhood development, presenting a clear message at the 2025 Pediatrics General Assembly: no personal smartphones before age 13. This position is based on over 6,800 analyzed studies, with 78 included in the final analysis, and captures a silent emergency linked to digital hyperconnectivity.
No More Smartphones for the Most Vulnerable Minors
The new guidelines are founded on concrete scientific evidence that quantifies the impact of early screen exposure.
- An extra half hour per day of digital devices can double the risk of language delay in children under 2 years old.
- In children between 3 and 5 years old, each additional hour of screens reduces sleep by approximately 15 minutes.
- And already in the 3-6 year age range, more than 50 minutes per day of screens is associated with an increased risk of pediatric hypertension and overweight.
The President of the Italian Society of Pediatrics explains that the brain continues to form and reorganize throughout childhood and adolescence, and early and prolonged digital stimulation can alter attention, learning, and emotional regulation.
The Impact of the Pandemic
The context in which these recommendations arrive is significant. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased minors’ exposure to screens, with average daily time growing by 4-6 hours, doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. This change made an update to the previous 2018-2019 recommendations urgent.
Consequences on Physical and Mental Health of Smartphones for Minors
The literature review conducted by the SIP Digital Dependencies Commission highlights consequences on multiple levels:
- Cognitive development and language: neuroimaging studies document changes in brain areas dedicated to attention and comprehension in minors exposed early to digital devices.
- Mental health: intensive screen use is correlated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and lower self-esteem, with adolescent girls showing greater vulnerability to the effects of social comparison and Fear of Missing Out.
- Cyberbullying and online violence: cyberbullying registers a 26% increase between ages 10 and 13, with data showing a triple risk of suicidal ideation in minors who are victims of digital violence.
- Obesity and lifestyle: under age 13, even exposure exceeding one hour per day can constitute a risk factor, while in adolescents over two hours daily increases the risk of overweight or obesity by 67%.
- Sleep: 89% of adolescents sleep with their mobile phone in the room, creating conditions for chronic sleep deprivation with repercussions on concentration and academic performance.
What Are the Updated Recommendations?
The SIP proposes a gradual and conscious approach to giving smartphones to minors:
- Avoid unsupervised Internet access before age 13 due to risks related to exposure to inappropriate content
- Postpone the introduction of personal smartphones at least until age 13 to prevent consequences on cognitive, emotional, and relational development
- Delay social media use as much as possible, ideally until age 18, even if permitted by law
- Avoid device use during meals and before bedtime
- Encourage outdoor activities, sports, reading, and creative play
- Maintain supervision, dialogue, and control tools consistently across all age groups
An Educational and Physiological Question, Not a Technological One
Elena Bozzola, coordinator of the SIP Digital Dependencies Commission, emphasizes that every hour spent in front of a screen is an hour taken away from play, sports, and creativity. It’s not about demonizing technology, but about teaching how to use it with measure and awareness.
The SIP’s central message is powerful: every year gained without a smartphone is an investment in the child’s health.
Postponing access to technological devices doesn’t mean depriving children of opportunities, but protecting them during a crucial phase of development.
The Role of Parents and Institutions
The new recommendations call into question not only families, but society as a whole.
Parents are invited to be models in digital use, establishing clear rules and favoring shared usage moments to encourage interaction and content explanation.
Luca Bernardelli, psychologist and consultant for Artificial Intelligence CNOP, emphasizes that a Law and Oversight are needed to contain the problem from Big Tech’s side and to promote adequate training for reference adults, to free childhood development from the trap of manipulative algorithms.
We Are With You
The SIP recommendations represent an authoritative reference point for families, educators, and institutions. In an era dominated by digital technology and artificial intelligence, the challenge is not to eliminate technology, but to ensure that its introduction occurs at the right times and in the right ways, respecting the developmental rhythms of children and adolescents.
Every parent faces complex choices in a social context where early smartphone use is normalized.
We at Parentalife stand by your side throughout the entire parenting journey and support you with guides, courses, and personalized consultations. We are with you.
SOURCES
https://sip.it/2025/11/19/bambini-troppo-digitali-troppo-presto-ogni-ora-di-schermo-e-un-rischio-per-corpo-e-mente/