The mobile phone has become an essential item for most people, especially among young individuals who often cannot imagine a day without it. To foster a necessary "digital disconnection," Okendo Plaza in Donostia will host a special area on April 18 where people can "abandon" their phones between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, for as long as they choose.

This initiative, named "Family Mobile-Free Day," has been promoted by the Basque Government across the three capitals of the Basque Autonomous Community (CAV). In Bilbao, phones can be left at Doña Casilda Park, and in Vitoria, at Postas Street, 2. The primary goal is to encourage a balanced use of new technologies and to restore family communication and relationships without the constant presence of screens.

In Donostia, those interested can approach Okendo Plaza and deposit their devices in designated areas supervised by personnel trained in family or community intervention, who will inform about the dangers of mobile phone addiction. Furthermore, participating families can commit to a decalogue on responsible technology use by signing it, and will receive a reusable bag with a stand to replicate this initiative in their homes.

Nerea Melgosa, the Basque Government's Minister for Welfare, Youth, and Demographic Challenge, explained this Tuesday in Bilbao that the initiative is a small "challenge" to promote "emotional well-being" and raise awareness about mobile phone "dependence." The Basque Government also aims to collect information from participants to identify habits, resistances, and areas for improvement, which will inform the development of future public policies.

Recently, mobile phone use, particularly among young people, has become a concern for families, experts, and institutions, leading to various proposals to limit its use. For instance, the Altxa Burua platform launched the "Gurea erabil dezakezu" (You can use ours) campaign last year, allowing young people to use phones at 450 businesses in Donostia, thereby avoiding the need to carry their own. In Zumaia, the City Council, in collaboration with sports clubs and the outpatient clinic, developed a decalogue for healthy screen use and to foster face-to-face relationships.

According to the latest data from the Altxa Burua association, almost half of Basque students spend at least four hours in front of a screen, compared to the national average of 17%. This percentage is even higher in some institutes, such as Antigua-Luberri in Donostia, where they have committed to delaying phone use, and only one in four students between 11 and 12 years old owns a mobile. These initiatives occur in a context where the Spanish Government seeks to prohibit social media access for minors under 16 years old, a measure also advocated by various experts.