New digital welfare measures for children and young people

Some 47% of children in the city between the ages of 10 and 11 have a mobile phone with an internet connection. Of these, 42% have no limits on the time they spend using devices and 75% affirm it would be difficult for them to stop using their mobiles. Among teenagers, three out of four state they have no time limits on the use of their mobile.

These figures, along with concerns over the harmful effects caused by the inappropriate use of technology, such as cognitive disruptions, bad eating habits, mental health problems or the risk of suffering addictions to mobile devices, have led to a participatory process through the Mental Health Board to work on the government measure on digital welfare.

The action plan has 51 proposals over the next four years, including the creation of a digital reference figures for community and education, prevention workshops on the safe use of technology among children, teenagers and families, the  strengthening of healthy leisure programme, the promotion of phone-free spaces in municipal facilities and the promotion of the Drug Guidance Service for support, assistance and orientation for teenagers and young people up to the age of 21 who make excessive use of technologies.