In the United States, there has been a tightening grip on social media access for minors. States like Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, and Florida have enacted laws prohibiting children under 14 from using social media platforms, while those aged 14 and 15 must obtain parental consent. This move aims to protect these age groups from the mental health issues stemming from addiction to platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The debate is also heated in Italy, where strategic marketing consultant Marco Divenuto reflects on new rules imposed by Instagram for teenagers, emphasizing the pivotal role families play in educating their children about responsible technology use.
“Technology has become an integral part of family life, an undeniable fact. However, we cannot accept that, at the dinner table, we isolate ourselves behind smartphone screens, ignoring dialogue. We need listening, interaction, support, and clear rules,” Divenuto asserts. He highlights the essential parenting strategy required to guide children through the complex world of social media.
The relationship between digital platforms and adolescents is increasingly delicate, as younger children navigate social networks, often passively scrolling through posts without real interaction. Many should not even have accounts due to age restrictions yet are active users. In response, Meta has introduced new “Teen Accounts” on Instagram, featuring stricter, mandatory protections that cannot be altered without adult intervention.
“These restrictions confirm that social networks are not suitable for younger adolescents. They are vulnerable and require safeguards, as their critical and social skills are still developing,” comments Divenuto, who has over 25 years of experience in digital communication. He notes that parents face a virtual landscape where everyone interacts, necessitating a clear and conscious approach.
Divenuto, a specialist in digital communication, observes that society tends to justify the pervasive use of social media in daily life. However, to educate children, we must first reflect on our behaviors. “If we ask our children to put down their phones, we must be the first to do so. It is essential to set a positive example,” he emphasizes. The issue of “digital parenting” involves not just imposing rules but also parents acting as regulators of technology use and positive role models. This, according to Divenuto, is a crucial step in preventing hyperconnectivity and excessive internet use among the youth.
Divenuto also reflects on the social changes affecting families: “I belong to a generation that experienced the joy of conversation at the dinner table. Today, that exchange is disappearing in many families, representing a significant loss.” Looking to the future, he imagines a world where family members, seated around the same table, exchange messages and photos through social media instead of communicating face-to-face. “I envision a future where, at that famous table, people discuss their lives through social media. I hope that the new measures introduced by Meta can help mitigate this scenario and, above all, contribute to building a more interactive and healthy relationship between parents and children.”
“Technologies provoke feelings of isolation and dissociation. We are accustomed to giving children smartphones or tablets from a young age, acting as digital babysitters. Research on American adolescents describes an alarming situation: they prefer staying home rather than going out and fear social interactions. Social isolation is more than a danger; it is a reality. People spend more time documenting an event, like a concert, than experiencing it. They think about sharing videos and photos on social media while living an experience that should bring them emotions, not likes. We are now dissociated,” states psychologist Ruggero Andrisani Ruggieri, a researcher in Psychology at the Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences at the University of Salerno. “All this produces discomfort. Adolescents do not understand what a bond means; they struggle to relate to others and confuse relationships and bonds with contacts and followers. They scroll through relationships as if they were Instagram reels, jumping from one relationship to another, creating emotional instability and psychological distress. The value of social connection is at risk and must be reclaimed.”
We witness what happens in our families, often failing to notice: we live isolated under the same roof, in the same house, each with our smartphone and social media. This is a vision of family far removed from what our parents taught us, which is one of sharing affection, shared projects, growth, and building a future together.