Florence to open Italy’s first prevention centre for digital addiction

Something different is opening in Florence that speaks to every parent who has ever worried about a child’s screen time.

A new model for tech prevention in Italy

Discover, short for Discover – Fuori dal guscio, is being launched as Italy’s first specialist centre focused on digital addiction and the conscious use of technology. It is being created by local health services, the City of Florence and the ReteSviluppo cooperative.

Rather than acting as a medical clinic, the centre is being presented as an educational and prevention-led space. Giving it a different feel from a traditional treatment service and makes it easier to approach for families.

Why early action on screen time matters so much

Too much time online can affect sleep, concentration, relationships and mood, especially among younger people. Florence’s new project is aimed at spotting those problems early and offering support before habits become harder to change. The early-action approach gives young people a safer way to reset how they use screens and social media.

Who the centre supports, youth, parents, and educators

The centre will mainly help young people aged 10 to 25. To make the project more useful across families and schools., parents and educators are also expected to be involved. ReteSviluppo (an Italian social enterprise cooperative based in Florence that specialises in digital literacy, media education, and prevention programs for screen and social media addiction among young people) will run the centre, bringing more than a decade of experience working in schools. Local reports say the first phase of the project will last three years.

Inside Discover: screen-free spaces and youth support

Discover will offer guidance programmes, a listening desk and workshop activities focused on media education and healthier social interaction. Reports also mention board games, manual activities and group work as part of the plan. A no-tech area is also planned, where smartphones will not be allowed, giving young people a place to spend time away from screens. This practical setup should make the centre feel less formal and more welcoming.

Launch date and impact for families

The project was signed off in Florence on Tuesday, 22 July 2026, and is expected to become operational after the summer, based in the Chiarugi library spaces at San Salvi. A local story but with wider appeal, because most families across the world are dealing with the same issue.