(ANS – Buenos Aires) – On Friday 3 July 2026, at the headquarters of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, the national research project “Growing Up and Educating in the Digital Age. Usage, Risks and Mental Health in Adolescents”, was held at the headquarters of the Argentine Episcopal Conference. The study was promoted by the Argentine Red Cross through its Humanitarian Observatory, in collaboration with other leading institutions in the field and with academic support from the National University of La Matanza (UNLAM).

The aim is to analyse the digital experiences of school-age adolescents aged between 13 and 18 in Argentina, assessing the impact that the digital ecosystem — including generative artificial intelligence — has on their mental health, well-being and daily lives. Furthermore, the project aims to examine the perceptions and practices of their primary caregivers (mothers, fathers and/or guardians) to identify patterns of use, pinpoint areas of vulnerability and guide future intervention strategies.

To achieve this objective, the plan is to collect a sample comprising at least 5,000 adolescents and a group of 300 primary caregivers, starting in August and covering the whole country. The surveys will be conducted in person and on a self-administered basis, coordinated at a local level by Red Cross volunteers with the support of the educational community, universities and a committee of expert advisers in mental health, neuroscience and behavioural addictions.

Among the specialists present at the launch were Bishop Dante Gustavo Braida Lorenzón, Bishop of La Rioja and President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care; Federico Pavlovsky, a psychiatrist specialising in addictions and gambling disorder; and Lucia Fainbom, Director of the “Bienestar Digital” consultancy firm.

“We need to interpret reality through a dialogue between the Gospel and the current context, recognising that the cultural landscape requires interdisciplinary discernment and new tools to support the younger generations,” emphasised Bishop Braida.

“We live in an age in which we must strengthen a shared vision of current cultural transformations, generate contextualised knowledge through research, and consolidate educational responses that foster integral human development, care for the individual, and the building of communities that promote bonds, participation and hope,” stated Lucia Fainbom.

Representing the Salesian Province of Argentina South (ARS) were Salesian Fr Agustín Camiletti, Provincial Delegate for Youth Ministry, and Federico Urrengoechea, Deputy Head of the primary section at the “Colegio León XIII” and a member of the provincial “Campo Escuelas” group.

The province, which is supporting this study, is confident that this research will help to advocate for public policies aimed at promoting the healthy use of digital devices, the consumption of which has reached unprecedented levels amongst young people.