March 29, 2026, 2:50 p.mMarch 29, 2026, 2:50 p.m
Italy wants to introduce a social media ban for young people. The right-wing ruling party Lega has introduced a corresponding draft law in the parliament in Rome. “Stop social media for young people under 14. We want to protect minors and help families,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini on X on Sunday.
Matteo Salvini.Image: keystone
The Lega’s proposed law proposes banning the use of social networks for children under 14 years of age. For older minors, access should only be permitted with “verifiable” parental consent.
The draft consists of five articles and is based on the assumption that intensive social media use during developmental ages can have negative effects on mental health, sleep, concentration and self-esteem. According to the reasoning, anxiety and depression can also be promoted, as well as cyberbullying and emotional manipulation.
Providers should introduce age verification
Article 3 of the draft law stipulates that social network providers are obliged to take appropriate and proportionate technical and organizational measures. These are intended not only to verify age, but also to reduce risks caused by harmful content – especially that which can create dependency or impair the psychophysical development of minors.
In addition, the communications supervisory authority should determine the specific technical and procedural requirements for implementation – in coordination with the data protection authority and taking into account the guidelines of the European Commission. In addition, the ban on profiling and the storage and further use of minors’ data for other purposes is reaffirmed, including their “prompt deletion”.
The proposal also involves the Ministry of Education, which, together with the Ministry of Health, should promote digital education programs in all schools. The aim is to give students a better understanding of how algorithms work and to enable them to use their online time consciously. There are also plans to set up a national monitoring center to study the impact of social media on minors and report annually to Parliament.
Next step in Italy
This would take Italy a further step: Since September, all schools have banned the use of smartphones during the entire school day – including breaks. Violations may result in sanctions determined by the teaching staff. The devices are usually collected before lessons start and stored safely, for example in lockers.
Exceptions apply if smartphones are included in the individual education plan of students with disabilities or if they are required in lessons, for example in computer science or telecommunications subjects. (hkl/sda/apa)