Put the Phone Down: Sardinian Eateries Test Screen-Free Meals
Rome, October 28
Busy schedules and constant notifications have made it common for families to eat together without really talking. Smartphones often take centre stage, even at mealtimes. To tackle this, 15 restaurants in Sardinia, Italy, have started a pilot project that asks families to keep their phones out of sight during meals.
The project is named ‘A Tavola Senza Schermo’, meaning ‘Dining Table Without Screens’. It will be tested for one month. The organisers hope it will reduce the heavy use of digital devices among young people and create more opportunities for direct conversation within households.
The initiative was started by Anna Cau, the island's Child and Adolescent Rights Guardian, working alongside FIPE-Confcommercio Sardinia.
Giving families something to do instead
The programme is designed around a simple idea: families are more likely to put phones away if they have something else to do. Restaurants taking part will supply games, colouring materials and other activities for children and teenagers.
A special set called the ‘Kit del Ritrovo’, or ‘Reconnection Kit’, offers activities tailored to children of different ages. These allow young diners to pass the time with their parents while waiting for food, instead of reaching for their devices.
Parents will receive information too. The sessions will cover how young people engage with the online world, how they use social media, and the dangers of spending excessive time on screens.
Why the adults matter
The organisers feel that it is unrealistic to expect children to change their habits on their own. They say a supportive atmosphere is needed, one in which the whole family can work together.
Emanuele Frongia, president of FIPE-Confcommercio Sardinia, described restaurants as natural meeting points where people talk and spend time together. He stressed that parents who want their children to avoid phones must also model that behaviour themselves.
Concerns from the medical community
The move comes amid mounting anxiety about how much time children spend on screens. Osama Al Jamal, president of the Italian Federation of Paediatricians in Sardinia, said many parents are not fully informed about the risks and potential advantages of digital devices.
In his view, the problem is not just the duration of screen use but also the content young people are exposed to. He cited sleep problems, social withdrawal and self-harm as reasons for greater awareness of children's digital lives.
From eight to fifteen
The pilot was originally planned for eight restaurants. After more establishments showed interest in taking part, the number was increased to 15. The restaurants are located in various parts of the island, including Cagliari, Quartu Sant'Elena, Capoterra, Nuoro, Bari Sardo, Ussassai, Oristano, Alghero, Olbia and Santa Teresa Gallura.