Catalan pediatricians will evaluate the risk of screen addiction in children

BarcelonaSubsidies to incorporate Catalan into video games, a national pact against hate speech, and limiting the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in public services and facilities for children up to 14 years old. These are some of the 67 measures that the Government intends to deploy in the coming years to combat the inappropriate use of digital technologies among children and adolescents and ensure their digital well-being. Among the various actions, the Catalan executive plans to implement screening in primary care to detect addiction risks for children up to 15 years old and recommend a digital plan to families.

In the event that the screening is positive, pediatricians will assess warning signs and, if any are detected, specific guidelines will be provided and follow-up will be carried out from primary and community care. If the case is serious, the child will be referred to specialized mental health and addiction services. The measure is included in the plan drawn up by the Interdepartmental Commission for the Digital Well-being of Childhood and Adolescence, which met for the second time this Monday in a meeting chaired by the Minister of Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper. The measures do not have a defined calendar, but the Government has set a time horizon for all of them to be operational before 2030.

That they do not use AI alone until they are 18 years old

Regarding the limitation of AI that had already been announced by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, the regulations provide that, for those under 14 years of age, only introductory literacy should be taught without allowing direct use; for young people between 14 and 18 years of age, its use will be permitted provided they have prior family authorization and teacher guidance, and it will not be until 18 years of age that the use of these tools will be completely autonomous.

In parallel with pediatric prevention, the package of measures places special emphasis on clinical care and treatment. In this sense, a new comprehensive care model specifically designed to treat behavioral addictions and all those related to the digital environment, such as problematic use of social networks, addiction to video games, and online gambling, will be deployed. This health and psychological support service will be aimed at the adolescent and youth population up to 25 years of age.

Another focus will be to protect minors from digital violence on social networks. This measure will be reinforced with the launch of the Xarxaneta pilot project, a tool for young people to report and request the rapid removal of harmful content. It also bets on reinforcing the presence of the language by offering support for the production and distribution of video games in Catalan.