On Friday 26 April 2024 at Carlo Cattaneo House, we held HappyApero, a casual late-afternoon event that brought together school pupils, parents and experts to reflect on and discuss the theme of digital well-being.
The HappyApero activity rounded off the first week of HappyLab, part of the Happiness2.0 project run by IBSA Foundation in partnership with the prestigious Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).
IBSA Foundation director Silvia Misiti opened the event by greeting those taking part. This was followed by a brief introductory presentation on the importance of initiatives such as HappyApero in promoting dialogue between teenagers and experts. Paolo Attivissimo — an information technology journalist e radio programme host for Swiss National Radio, RSI.CH — then took the floor with an interesting talk on the history of the Internet and the impacts of social networks on contemporary society, offering a critical and thought-provoking glimpse into digital dynamics.
The informal atmosphere of HappyApero fostered a lively, in-depth discussion on issues related to communication, technology, and the challenges of the digital age, led by Laura Marciano, a research associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The teenagers involved shared their own personal experiences of the HappyLabs, accompanied by photos of the masks used. An interesting discussion with the audience ensued, sparked by the responses given by the teenagers during the workshops.
The HappyApero was a fun activity enjoyed in good company, but most importantly, it was a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of responsible social media use and to nurture a digital well-being culture among young people.