THEThe internet is part of the daily life of children and adolescents. It is not an “other” place that you visit every now and then, but one continuous relational spacewhere we study, play, compare and build identities. It is from this awareness that the message launched by the Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry (SYNPIA) on the occasion of Safer Internet Daywhich is celebrated on February 10th. A clear message, which especially concerns parents: the digital safety of young people it’s not a sloganbut a concrete, clinical, educational and social challenge.
Beyond alarmism: why the web is not just a danger
«This day cannot be reduced to a simple emotional reminder about “online risk”», he underlines Elisa Fazzipresident of SINPIA. «Today’s reality is more complex: the Internet is rooted in the lives of young people – and also in ours – and the topic requires serious scientific and cultural reflection».
The scientific literature agrees on one point: The Internet is neither an absolute enemy nor a silver bullet. If used in an age-appropriate manner and accompanied by competent adults, it can promote:
- access to information,
- the development of critical thinking,
- the ability to compare sources,
- the sense of belonging and emotional sharing,
- new forms of narrative and creative expression.
Social media, in particular, can help kids feel less alone, normalize emotions and difficulties, and build bonds, especially in phases of fragility or isolation.
When the online experience becomes immersive
The problem arises when there is a lack of guidance. Children and adolescents, experts explain, they do not “visit” the digital worldbut they experience it in an immersive way, often without clearly distinguishing between online and offline.
The platforms are designed to hold attention: personalized feeds, continuous notifications, content suggested by algorithms. This can expose younger people – even without active research – to violent, sexualized or emotionally destabilizing images.
According to data from‘Higher Institute of Healtha significant proportion of children between 11 and 15 years old show problematic use of social media, with associated psychological difficulties. About 12% of adolescents are also at risk of addiction to video games, with effects on emotional and relational development.
The most fragile children are also the most exposed
“These phenomena are not marginal,” he explains Stefano Berloffachild neuropsychiatristIRCCS Stella Maris Foundation of Pisa. “They are often part of a larger picture, in which digital experience interacts with neuropsychological and emotional development.” Research shows that adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders or mental health problems may experience the web differently from their peers: more social comparison, less online relationship satisfaction, greater impact of digital interactions on mood.
What science says: the crux of algorithms
An important contribution also comes from the report ofANSES (the French National Agency for Health Security)which analyzed over a thousand scientific studies. The document highlights how theadolescence is a phase of particular neuropsychological vulnerability: Prolonged exposure to platforms designed to maximize screen time can impact sleep, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and mental well-being.
According to ANSES, algorithmic mechanisms . infinite feeds, automatic recommendations, notifications. they amplify problematic use, especially in the most fragile subjects and girls.
Parents: what really works to protect children
Scientific research agrees: control alone is not enough. The benefits emerge when:
- Internet use is commensurate with age,
- the individual characteristics of the child are taken into account,
- there is one adult educational mediation,
- kids are active users and not just passive consumers,
- dialogue is promoted rather than surveillance.
Here are some practical tips, supported by international literature:
- Talk to your kids about what they do onlinewithout judgment, asking what intrigues them or makes them uncomfortable.
- Establish clear and shared rulesespecially on usage times and night-time use (sleep is one of the first to be affected).
- Using technology togetherat least in part: watching videos, getting information, playing.
- Train critical thinkingexplaining how algorithms, advertising and viral content work.
- Be credible role models: conscious use by adults is one of the strongest protective factors.
A responsibility that concerns everyone
«Online security is not built only with filters and age checks», reiterates Fazzi. “We need profound digital literacy, adult education, critical skills in children and evidence-based public policies.” SINPIA’s message is clear: the responsibility cannot fall only on parents. Schools, healthcare professionals, institutions and technology companies must share the commitment. The Safer Internet Day it can then become something more than a symbolic anniversary: an opportunity to build, step by step, a digital environment that truly protects the mental, emotional and cognitive health of today’s children and adolescents.
