Marcello Filacchioni : 3 October 2025 15:10
The Red Hot Cyber Community had the opportunity to participate in “Beyond the Screen,” the Postal Police’s important initiative for young people on October 2nd , with the aim of encouraging them to experience reality beyond the confines of social networks . This event confirms how, for several years now, cybersecurity awareness has become a fundamental pillar of youth training.
Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica , packed with over 1,200 students from the capital and its province , hosted the meeting promoted by the State Police, in collaboration with Google and One More Pictures . The initiative is part of the 13th edition of “Una Vita da Social,” the historic traveling educational campaign that brings tools and insights for safe and informed web use to Italian schools.
This year’s focus was on comparing the models of perfection proposed by social media with the identities of young people, with particular attention to body positivity and rediscovering the value of authentic relationships in real life.
Opening the meeting was Police Chief Vittorio Pisani, who reminded the students not to be influenced by their digital identity:
“Human relationships are what truly enrich you and prepare you to make a difference in your daily life and in the future world of work.”
The prefect thanked the teachers, acknowledging their crucial role in imparting values and responsibility to the new generations. The Honorable Federico Mollicone also emphasized the social and educational value of the topic in a message, calling digital education a crucial challenge for the future.
The most anticipated moment was the screening of the short film “(IM)PERFETTA” , produced by One More Pictures with Rai Cinema and presented at the Venice Film Festival.
The story of a girl who, after a romantic disappointment, takes refuge in social media in pursuit of an ideal of perfection, touched the students. The protagonist ultimately discovers that true uniqueness lies in imperfections, what makes us authentic and unique.
Written by Margherita Pezzella, the short film sparked a candid discussion, one in which many young people recognized themselves. The short’s finale is masterful, with the protagonist, like a modern-day Hamlet, staring at the diet pills before the final nuance, leaving the viewer constantly fraught with the spectre of the never-ending temptation of (misleading) shortcuts to success.
The event was made special by the participation of the film’s cast, artists, athletes, and media personalities. There were also video messages from AS Roma and SS Lazio players, who encouraged the kids to believe in sacrifice, teamwork, and the value of real life over virtual life.
Radio host Renzo Di Falco and Dr. Roberta Mestichella led the day with energy, offering reflections and discussions, including live broadcasts from New York with digital communications expert Marco Camisani Calzolari and from a film set in Trentino Alto Adige.
The discussion between institutions and companies reaffirmed the need for a public-private alliance.
Barbara Strappato, director of the First Division of the Postal Police, and Martina Colasante of Google Italy emphasized the commitment to developing safe technologies tailored specifically for young people.
Producer Carlo Raffronti reminded us that the risk today is “digital illiteracy,” urging young people to always ask themselves why content is being offered to them online.
Almost all the guests on the talk emphasized the value of real emotions, which are more lasting than virtual ones.
The underlying theme of the event was clear: education, respect, and acceptance of oneself and others as tools to combat phenomena like cyberbullying . “There are no shortcuts,” the athletes from Rome and Lazio in attendance reminded us in a video message. “Sacrifice and dedication are needed, in sport as in life.”
During the day’s various speeches, each participant received a kit with informational materials: a Comix notebook, a Postal Police flyer with helpful tips for safe browsing, and Google’s “The Future Report,” a truly in-depth study on European teenagers and their relationship with the internet and artificial intelligence.
“Beyond the screen” was not just a moment of reflection , but an invitation to experience technology without being subjected to it, to not be fooled by the illusions of social media and to give value to authentic relationships.
Because, as one of the speakers pointed out, “what really matters is what the people who know you in real life, those who love you, think of you, not the comments on social media.”
Marcello Filacchioni