Milano: risks and opportunities of digital for the youngest, Benedetta D'Intino Foundation addresses the topic at Bookcity 2024

Living the Digital Space: Risks and Opportunities for the Growth of Children and Adolescents, this is the title of the meeting of bookcity organized by Benedetta D'Intino Foundation, committed for thirty years to promoting greater awareness on issues related to the right to communication for those who present severe communication disabilities and psychological distress in children and adolescents. The event, which will be held Sunday 17 November at 10.30pm at Brera International Center (via Marco Formentini 10), will explore how il digital and technology influence the psychological and relational development of young people, highlighting both the dangers that advantages of these tools for the future of the new generations.

Bringing their professional perspectives to enrich the discussion on this increasingly topical issue will be Fulvio Ervas, writer and teacher, who will talk about his experience with students; Jacob Dalai Lama, psychologist and psychotherapist, who will explore the opportunities that digital can offer, and Ilaria Dufour, psychoanalytic psychotherapist of the Benedetta D'Intino Center, who will discuss the dangers of hyperconnection. The journalist will moderate Paola Molteni.

During the morning there will also be The winners of the XII edition of the Benedetta D'Intino Journalism Award have been awarded, which saw numerous nominations on the theme of childhood and adolescence in the digital space that gives the event its title.

Among the articles, the first prize will be awarded to Margherita Forehead of the magazine Focus for his work Digital newborn. Among the services, the recognition will go to Gabriele D'Angelo di Rome Today with the reportage Smartphone addicts: Inside the ward that treats internet addiction. Furthermore, Emilio Vitaliano di BBC Science will receive a special mention for his article Digital drug.

With this edition of the Benedetta D'Intino Award, we wanted to promote a reflection on the impact that digital can have on the youngest – states Mattia Formenton, president of the Benedetta D'Intino Foundation – Our goal is to recognize the work of those who are able to accurately and consciously tell the reality of children and adolescents dealing with the challenges of the digital world, offering a significant contribution to the understanding of this phenomenon.

Participation in the event is free until all seats are taken. For further information, contact marta.falsirollo@benedettadintino.it

Benedetta D'Intino Foundation was born in 1992 by will of the Mondadori, D'Intino and Formenton families in memory of the little girl Benedetta.

It is a non-profit organization who deals with children with severe communication disability and psychological distress, supporting their families. It operates through the Clinical Center of the same name which assists approximately 350 children per year offering them the support of professionals with specific training and long experience in the treatment of psychological problems and disabilities. Inside there is also a Special Library for Children with Motor and Communication Disabilities.

The Foundation was the first in Italy to establish a Training School in Augmentative Alternative Communication which, in about thirty years, has trained over 1.000 rehabilitation and education workers. In 2022 the School has become First Level Master's Degree in Augmentative and Alternative Communication in collaboration with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milano.