National strategy

The main lines of the national strategy on media literacy are outlined  in the National Digital School Plan (Piano Nazionale Scuola Digitale - PNSD) introduced by Law 107/2015, which focuses on innovation within the school system and the opportunities of digital education. 

In Action 15, “Innovative Scenarios for Digital Skills”, the Plan aims to promote the development of “digital citizenship” and strengthen awareness of the impact of relationships and interactions in the online space. This is pursued through the teaching of digital rights, media education, and the dynamics of social interaction online (such as social networks), as well as the quality, integrity, and circulation of information.

The entire National Digital School Plan is subject to comprehensive monitoring that combines an approach based on all available school data (such as the National Evaluation System data, staff training, school leader evaluations, technological resources, funding received, learning outcomes, training plans, etc.), with qualitative monitoring carried out in schools and across local communities.

The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) includes several measures aimed at promoting digital education and raising awareness among young people about the responsible use of social media. One of the main initiatives is the Digital Civic Service (Mission 1) which aims to develop digital skills among young people through projects that actively engage them in promoting digital literacy and the responsible use of technology. In addition, the PNRR provides significant investment in Integrated Digital Teaching and training for school staff on the digital transition (Mission 4). This investment aims to train teachers and school staff promoting innovative teaching methodologies that include media education and the safe use of new media.

Media literacy and online safety through formal education

Media literacy and online safety are integrated into civic education, introduced by Law 92/2019 as a compulsory subject, in all upper secondary education courses, both general and vocational. 

In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Merit published the Guidelines for the teaching of civic education (Linee guida per l’insegnamento dell’educazione civica, annexed to the Decree 183/2024). According to the guidelines, Civic education also includes the teaching of digital citizenship, which focuses on the responsible use of technologies, raising awareness of online risks, promoting informed and ethical approaches to digital tools. Civic education is integrated with all other subjects in the curriculum, and it is intended to take at least 33 hours per year.

Scuola Futura is the online platform of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) dedicated to the professional development of educators and school personnel through training hubs such as the Future Labs. At both national and regional levels, the platform provides refresher programmes that equip teachers with practical tools to effectively integrate digital innovation into everyday teaching practices.

Promoting media literacy and online safety through non-formal and informal education

In Italy, a wide range of initiatives in non-formal and informal learning are led by non-profit organisations specialising in media literacy. These organisations promote network-building among municipalities, municipal associations, and public institutions, fostering the exchange of good practices, often within a broader European framework.

Generazioni Connesseis the Italian Safer Internet Centre, co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Merit, in partnership with public and private institutions and organisations. Its goal is to support schools, parents, students, and young people more broadly in exploring topics related to online safety and the responsible use of the internet.

Large technology companies such as Google, Meta and Microsoft partnered with schools and youth organisations to promote online safety. Initiatives such as Google's ‘Live the Internet, Better’ include educational resources and training modules to teach young people how to navigate safely and responsibly.

Many Italian Regions, in cooperation with local associations, organise workshops, courses and events focused on media literacy. These initiatives often include coding workshops, fact-checking and simulation activities on digital risk scenarios, usually held in spaces dedicated to young people like community centres and public libraries. A notable example is Pane e Internet, a project funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region as part of its Regional Digital Agenda. It offers free community-based courses on topics such as safe internet use and critical digital thinking, targeting not only young people but also their families.

These initiatives are closely aligned with the broader framework of EU-funded digital programmes. Since 2021, Europe has supported the digital transition through several funding instruments, including the Digital Europe Programme, Horizon Europe, and the Connecting Europe Facility.

Raising awareness of the risks of new media

Public authorities in Italy are actively engaged in raising awareness about the risks associated with new media, through both legislative actions and dedicated educational initiatives. A range of public and private sector projects has been launched to promote the responsible and conscious use of the internet.

Notable initiatives include:

• ELISA Project (E-Learning Training of Teachers on Anti-bullying Strategies) which provides schools and teachers with tools to address the issue of cyberbullying through free e-learning training and monitoring. It operates within the framework established by the Guidelines for the prevention and combating of bullying and cyberbullying (Ministerial Decree No. 18/2021).
• The Italian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) - Generazioni Connesse which carries out awareness-raising activities, including media campaigns and competitions, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. It also conducts monitoring and evaluation activities throughout the project to ensure maximum impact of awareness, dissemination and youth participation activities.
• The helpline 19696, run by Telefono Azzurro, is a generic, confidential, free and secure service, active 24/7, which provide support in relation to a broad range of issues such as problems related to exposure to harmful content, cyber-bullying, internet addiction, pro-suicide sites, pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia sites, dating violence, online child sexual abuse images, grooming, sexting, gambling.
• Parole ostili: a social awareness campaign addressing the aggressive use of language online. The initiative encourages responsible digital communication through the adoption of a manifesto of ten principles aimed at fostering respectful and inclusive behaviour on the web.
• SAFELY project – Social media Awareness for Education and Legal Youth, created by the Interdepartmental Research Centre on Discrimination and Vulnerability of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, aims to provide training to help young people to recognize, prevent and address discriminatory behavior, crimes and digital crimes.

The Safer Internet Day promoted by the European Union and held annually raises awareness  among young people, parents and educators about the importance of online safety and the responsible use of digital technologies.