Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara
said Tuesday that he agreed with an appeal launched by education
expert Daniele Novara and psychotherapist Alberto Pellai for
under-14s to be banned from owning cell phones and for under-16s
to be prevented from having social-media profiles.
Valditara has already banned pupils from being able to use
smartphones in class in elementary and middle schools in Italy,
even if it is for educational reasons.
Several prominent Italian figures, including actors Paola
Cortellesi, Alba Rohrwacher, Stefano Accorsi and Luca
Zingaretti, have signed Novara and Pellai's petition on
Change.org.
"The appeal goes in the direction that I have strongly supported
and turned into reality with the ban on the use of mobile phones
up to the age of 14 in Italian schools," Valditara told ANSA.
"This is a position that is increasingly shared internationally.
The damage caused by the early use of mobile phones and social
networks is now evident to everyone".
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