Digital Wellbeing and Safety for Children and Pre-Adolescents: The Milan Recommendations

This paper presents the "Milan Recommendations for the Digital Wellbeing and Safety of Children and Pre-Adolescents," a collective effort to address the complex relationship between digitalization, education, and childhood development. Initiated in 2022 as part of the MUSA project, this research-action initiative engaged over 15,000 individuals, including parents, educators, health professionals, and students, to collectively create a framework for safe and beneficial digital practices. With increasing evidence of the risks associated with early digital exposure—such as negative impacts on mental and physical health—this initiative sought to balance the benefits of digital tools with the need for protective measures.

The recommendations draw from extensive data collected through focus groups, public discussions, and surveys involving 6,500 families and 2,000 educators. Key findings reveal parental concerns about excessive screen time and the early use of smartphones, as well as a desire for clearer institutional guidelines. The recommendations emphasize the importance of adult awareness, responsible digital autonomy, and the prioritization of physical and interpersonal experiences over digital ones. They also propose policies such as age-appropriate digital use, the promotion of digital literacy, and the enforcement of existing regulations, such as GDPR's restriction on platform usage by minors.

By fostering collaboration between the educational, health, and legal sectors, these guidelines aim to equip future generations with the tools necessary to navigate the digital landscape safely. This research highlights the role of local governments, schools, and families in establishing sustainable, long-term strategies for digital education and well-being.