On 3 October 2026, the Basque Minister for Welfare, Youth and the Demographic Challenge, Nerea Melgosa, at the second meeting of the family and professional association Altxa Burua at the Universidad Laboral de Eibar called for united action against the risks of excessive screen use in childhood and adolescence. Protection should not involve blaming parents, Melgosa said. Instead, there was a need for coordinated parenting education, provision in schools and support from local councils.
Melgosa drew on the latest regional report by UNICEF Euskadi, whose key findings were discussed in Eibar . According to the report, children in Euskadi get their first mobile phone at around eleven on average; around 73.7 per cent of under-13s are already registered on at least one social network. First contact with pornographic content occurs at around twelve on average, often unintentionally. The report also said that many young people had a “white” profile for their family and a second account they kept hidden.
Against this backdrop, the minister referred to the proposal by the Lehendakari for a Basque Social Agreement on responsible screen use. The guidelines under discussion, which could be aligned with those adopted across Europe, include no screens for children aged zero to two, a maximum of one hour of daily use for three- to six-year-olds, and access to social networks only from the age of 15. These were policy guidelines; no specific decisions were made in Eibar. According to the Departamento de Bienestar, Juventud y Reto Demográfico the proposals are to feed into a broader consultation process.
In the keynote speech, psychologist Francisco Villar argued for strengthening protective factors and critical thinking in everyday digital life. Villar said that if normal relationship-building and developmental processes were interrupted by constant screen use, negative consequences could follow. Families needed accessible support and clear agreements between home, school and local council.
The event, organised by Altxa Burua, brought together around 250 participants in Eibar, according to the organisers. Its aim was to share experiences, present initiatives and strengthen networks. The ministry also cited the relevant legal and strategic frameworks: the Ley de Infancia y Adolescencia de Euskadi and the V Plan de Familias prioritise children’s rights in the digital sphere too. This year, Altxa Burua also joined the Consejo Vasco de Familias , which includes Hirukide, UNICEF and Save the Children.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).