by Elisa Garfagna
The COVID-19 pandemic has marked a particularly dark and challenging moment of this century, forcing governments, businesses, and individuals to radically rethink their way of living and working. In Italy, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic crisis, digitalization has played a crucial role in alleviating the consequences of lockdowns and restrictions. It is undeniable that digitalization has impacted communities, children, and social life in general, revealing opportunities and untapped potential for the Bel Paese.
With the necessity of lockdowns, many Italian municipalities had to quickly adapt to new modes of connection and technology. Digital platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams became essential tools for remote work, organizing meetings, studying, and even providing medical support to elderly or vulnerable patients, including psychological assistance. According to an ISTAT report, 73% of Italians used these platforms to stay in touch with friends and family during the lockdown.
The emergence of mutual aid groups on social media, where citizens from various cities coordinated the delivery of essential goods to vulnerable individuals, exemplified resilience during the pandemic. However, this technological transition was not without challenges: the digital divide, still prevalent in Italy, excluded a portion of the population, particularly in rural areas and among older demographics. The “Digital Economy and Society Index” report from the European Commission indicated that 35% of the Italian population lacked sufficient digital literacy before the pandemic.
Digitalization also represented a revolution in the way people learn. With the closure of schools, millions of Italian students were forced to switch to Distance Learning (DaD). This shift revealed significant flaws and vulnerabilities within the Italian educational system, placing considerable strain on both teachers and students. According to an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Education, 70% of teachers reported having to adapt their teaching methods to cope with this emergency.
Many schools in Italy were unprepared to meet the technological and organizational demands of online teaching. Furthermore, not all students had access to a stable internet connection or advanced technological tools, exacerbating existing educational inequalities. Simultaneously, social isolation had a devastating impact on the mental health of young people, depriving them of critical interactions essential for their emotional and social development. A study from the University of Milan found that 23% of students reported symptoms of anxiety and depression during the isolation period.
How did social life change for Italians during the COVID era? Messaging platforms and social media allowed people to maintain connections with loved ones, while events such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, and even funerals took place online. According to a survey conducted by Doxa, 60% of Italians participated in virtual events during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, all of this came at a high cost: the increase in screen time led to phenomena of alienation and digital stress. For the elderly, who were excluded from active digital participation, isolation became even more unbearable. A study from the University of Rome revealed that 45% of seniors experienced loneliness and faced the risk of depression due to social isolation.
The experience of COVID, in its immense tragedy, has taught Italy a crucial lesson: it is essential to reduce the digital divide and to promote policies that ensure universal access to technology and digital education programs designed for all age groups.
While the moment of crisis seems to have passed, we hope the lesson remains: investing in technology and digital advancement should be a primary focus of the Italian agenda. Because when used effectively, digital progress can save lives.