Child Safety Online

• July 24, 2026
• admin

The report Child Safety Online examines how children and adolescents can be protected and empowered in an increasingly digital world. It was developed by a Special Panel that drew on contributions from academics, practitioners, youth and parent representatives, and other stakeholders. The report recognises that social media and other digital services offer important opportunities for learning, creativity, connection, self-expression, and participation, but also expose minors to risks including addictive design, harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, sexual abuse, misinformation, and mental-health harms. Because these risks vary according to age, personal circumstances, and vulnerability, the report argues for a developmental approach rather than a single solution for all minors.

A central recommendation is a precautionary, age-appropriate framework for online access. The Co-Chairs propose a harmonised EU-wide restriction on access to social media and other risky digital services for children under 13, with limited access only with parental authorisation and supervision or for educational purposes. They also recommend effective, privacy-preserving age-assurance systems, stronger safety-by-design requirements, protective default settings, limits on addictive features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, and shifting the burden of proof to providers to demonstrate that their services are safe for minors. Member States could introduce additional restrictions for adolescents aged 13 and above, subject to continuous evaluation.

The report emphasises that regulation alone is insufficient and calls for a broader ecosystem involving digital-service providers, governments, parents, educators, civil society, and children themselves. Its six guiding principles are a developmental approach, equality and diversity, protection of minors, accountability of digital services and consumer rights, empowerment and media education, and children’s rights and participation. Recommendations include stronger complaint mechanisms, digital and AI literacy, support for parents and teachers, meaningful child participation in policy design, investment in offline activities, better research and data access, and sustained support for services that help children navigate online risks. Overall, the report seeks to balance protection with children’s rights to participate in and benefit from the digital world.