Blue Box: Dedem booths for anti-bullying support in Italy from 2026

Against bullying there is a new initiative: Blue Box, the new project born from the partnership between Dedem S.p.A., the National Observatory on Bullying and Disagio Giovanile (ONBD) and the Tellus Foundation, with the technical expertise of DMP Electronics. The aim is to offer young victims of bullying and cyberbullying and their loved ones a safe, discreet and easily accessible place from which to ask for help.

Starting in January 2026, selected Dedem booths (the company from Ariccia, in the province of Rome, which many probably know from its booths for passport photos that can be found on street corners all over Italy) in target locations throughout Italy will be equipped with a device that will enable them to activate a direct and free connection with the support number against bullying and cyberbullying. At the touch of a button, they will be able to get in touch with operators trained by the ONBD, who will be able to listen, welcome and provide first-level psychological counselling, then routing the most delicate cases to specialised professionals.

Calls will be handled by a dedicated call centre (active at the main times of the day and supported by a night answering machine) and routed to ONBD specialists, who will be able to offer psychological and legal support, guaranteeing anonymity, confidentiality and timeliness.

After the pilot phase with selected cabins, the goal is to reach 100 installations by the end of 2026. The Blue Boxes will be distributed throughout the country, starting with schools, sports centres, shopping centres and youth gathering places in general, also thanks to the involvement of local authorities and institutions.

'Bullying and cyberbullying are often accompanied by silence and loneliness,' explains Luca Massaccesi, ONBD president. 'Offering young people a protected and anonymous place to ask for help is a valuable step in rebuilding trust and reducing the isolation and lack of trained support figures that many experience.