They were awarded on the morning of Wednesday 22 October in the Chamber of Deputies, on the date indicated for the establishment of the Gnational digital citizenship daythe three winning classes of the competition NeoConnessiWind Tre’s digital education project which from 2018 to today has reached over 2 million boys and girls, involving almost half of the schools in our country (https://neoconnessi.windtre.it/). Hundreds of multimedia and textual works presented by elementary schools from all over Italy who took part in the competition, among which those deemed most original and effective were selected to address the theme of this edition, entitled “Digital grandparents: connection between generations”.
Initiative which, in the 2024-2025 edition, stimulated children to transform themselves into the “digital masters” of their grandparentspromoting digital literacy in the family through play and collaboration. The classes, present in the Chamber, were awarded by the actor and television presenter Paolo Ruffini, special guest at the “Little Digital Teachers in Action!” event, who interviewed girls and boys from the winning schools and in turn received a special plaque for his commitment to raising awareness and combating bullying. To open the morning, institutional greetings from the Honourable Anna Ascanivice-president of the Chamber of Deputies and the introductory greetings of the Honourable Paola FrassinettiUndersecretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Merit.
Following, the talk “Digital well-being: living technology with balance, safety and awareness”, with the Honourable Marianna Madia and the senator Lavinia Mennunifirst signatories of the bipartisan bill to regulate minors’ access to social media, and the interventions of Tommaso Vitali, director of B2C Marketing & New Business, Digital Responsibility Ambassador of Wind Tre and the members of the Scientific Committee of NeoConnessi, Luca Bernardelli, psychologist consultant on Artificial Intelligence of the National Council of the Order of Psychologists and Federica Bensi, Chief Commissioner technical psychologist of the State Police. The roundtable was moderated by Simone Cosimitechnology-savvy journalist and writer. The quality of the papers carried out in class and presented highlighted the value and effectiveness of the NeoConnessi project in raising awareness among young people in the use of technology. There were many topics covered, including fake news, sharenting, online security and online scams. The first prize was awarded to the Fortis Primary School of Brugherio (MB)with a digital escape room to facilitate meetings between generations. Silver medal to the San Mauro Marchesato School (KR), with videos showing children teaching their grandparents to surf online. Third place for the Giovanni Ponti School of Trebaseleghe (PD), with a digital bulletin board that reinvents traditional games. Special mention for the primary school of Tolfa (RM) for having transformed the municipal garden into an open-air digital laboratory, where different generations can meet by exploring the internet together in a safe and creative way.
Third place for the Giovanni Ponti School of Trebaseleghe (PD). In the photo, the teacher and two students
Tommaso Vitali declared: «As a company that provides connections, we at Wind Tre represent a real gateway to digital. In an increasingly digital age, it is essential to accompany the youngest, but also adultswith concrete tools and educational paths. With over 2 million children and young people reached, NeoConnessi is a successful model that demonstrates how digital education must start from school, reach families and extend to grandparents, creating bridges between generations and promoting an inclusive and aware digital culture.”
Luca Bernardelli added: «In the virtual world it is easier to hurt, because the other becomes an image on the screen and no longer a person with real emotions. The dimension of the phenomenon is truly widespread: just think that tens of millions of contents related to cyberbullying are removed online every year, which represent only a small part of a much larger problem. To prevent these phenomena digital psychological education should be an integral part of schoolwhere children can be accompanied to understand the psychological mechanisms and existential risks of digital interactions.”
Federica Bensi he concluded: «What the Postal Police receives is often only the tip of the iceberg. These are only the most serious, persistent or violent cases of online solicitation and cyberbullying. It is essential that parents report. The report allows us to start investigations and often to discover many other victims who have not yet found the courage to speak. We understand the fear of further harming children, but reporting is an act of protection, including psychological.” The NeoConnessi project is carried out in collaboration with the State Police – which through the Postal Police plays a fundamental role in ensuring online security -, with the support of the Italian Society of Paediatrics and the National Council of the Order of Psychologists, and developed with La Fabbrica Società Benefit. NeoConnessi is entirely free, open to all primary and middle school students, their parents and teaching staff. It can be freely used online on the website https://neoconnessi.windtre.it/ where training courses, educational materials and practical advice for families are available.
