ITU-Led TechWell Project Published Reports on Youth Technology Addiction in France, Italy, and Türkiye

Reports have been prepared for three different countries within the scope of the TechWell Erasmus+ project, led by ITU, which focuses on combating technology addiction among young people. These reports, published for the most vulnerable age group (15-17 years) regarding screen addiction in France, Italy, and Türkiye, have revealed striking findings.

The reports, supported by the European Union under the Technological Wellness Among Young People (TechWell) Project, were prepared by expert researchers from the three countries. They underscore the urgent need for comprehensive preparations, parental awareness, and educational interventions across Europe.

The study focused on the 15-17 age group, considered one of the most vulnerable in terms of screen addiction. The results painted a concerning picture of widespread technology addiction and its growing impact on mental health, academic performance, and personal well-being. The reports specifically indicated that smartphone addiction is particularly high.

Increased risk with decreasing screen exposure age

One of the most significant findings of the report is that those who started using smartphones before the age of 10 are twice as prone to addiction as those who started using them after the age of 13. Furthermore, serious negative effects of smartphone addiction on academic achievement were also observed.

Lack of supervision is another striking finding. According to the report, 90 per cent of young people use these technologies without any adult or parental guidance.

The study, which prepared these reports, expands the boundaries of knowledge on the major problem of technology addiction, serving as a resource for anyone interested in this field. The study also provided important findings for the educational programme to be developed within the framework of the TechWell Project to contribute to solving the problem of technology addiction.

Please visit the website to access separately prepared reports for France, Italy, and Türkiye.

About the TechWell Project

The prevalence of technology addiction has emerged as a global concern of increasing significance in recent years. This phenomenon is observed across a diverse spectrum of socioeconomic groups, especially among the younger population. The harmful use of technology and its negative effects on young people have also found their way into EU documents. The European Parliament's report, published in 2019, directly focuses on this issue, defines the problem, and proposes solutions. As stated in the relevant report, the proposed solutions include "promoting and disseminating applied research and information on responsible internet use and prevention" and "promoting and educating on online and offline health behaviours in young populations."

The Technological Wellness Among Young People (TechWell) Project aims to address this issue by offering an innovative training programme. The project, whose kick-off meeting was held on 24 June last year, has three main objectives:

1. Assessing the causes and consequences of smartphone addiction among high school students.
2. Combating problematic smartphone usage.
3. Increasing awareness among young people about smartphone addiction.

Within the scope of the project, a total of 1080 students will be reached in two pilot trainings. Thus, the economic, cultural, and social inclusiveness and diversity of students will be ensured in the selection of high school students for the pilot test. The pilot training will be implemented in three different countries: Türkiye, France, and Italy. Thanks to this pilot training, regions not included in the project will also be able to adapt the content of the training after the project concludes.

Funded by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme, managed by the Turkish National Agency, and led by Istanbul Technical University, TechWell has an interdisciplinary research team consisting of experts in technology, psychologists, educators, and economists from different parts of Europe. Our academic and civil society partners are responsible for the academic research, curriculum design, and implementation of the pilot training aimed at raising awareness about technology addiction among young people. The project, which will last 2 years, has a total budget of 250,000 Euros.

Project partners

• ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, Türkiye (Project Leader)
• UNIVERSITE PARIS XII VAL DE MARNE, France
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA, Italy
• JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF TÜRKİYE (GENÇ BAŞARI EĞİTİM VAKFI), Türkiye
• IASIS, Greece
• GOVERNORSHIP OF ISTANBUL, Türkiye
• Yeniden Association, Türkiye
• ACT KNOW, Türkiye