The European Commission has launched a comprehensive Action Plan Against Cyberbullying, aimed at strengthening the protection of children and teenagers across the European Union. The initiative combines regulatory enforcement, new digital tools and prevention-focused education to address what EU officials describe as an urgent and growing threat to young people’s wellbeing online.
The plan rests on three core pillars: the rollout of an EU-wide reporting app, closer coordination among Member States, and preventive measures promoting safer digital behaviour from an early age.
EU-wide reporting app for victims
At the centre of the Action Plan is the development of a user-friendly mobile application allowing victims of cyberbullying to report incidents directly to a national helpline.
Beyond reporting, the app will enable children and teenagers to receive support and securely store and transmit evidence. The Commission will design a common blueprint, which Member States will be able to adapt, translate and integrate with national services.
The objective is to ensure that young people across the EU have a clear, accessible and trusted pathway to seek help.
A coordinated European approach
The Commission argues that protection levels should not vary across borders. Member States are therefore encouraged to develop comprehensive national action plans based on a shared definition of cyberbullying, enabling comparable data collection and coordinated responses.
The initiative also builds on existing EU legislation and regulatory tools. The Commission plans to:
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Review guidelines under the Digital Services Act to reinforce obligations on platforms to protect minors and ensure easy reporting mechanisms.
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Adopt guidelines clarifying the role of trusted flaggers in identifying illegal content, including cyberbullying.
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Address cyberbullying in the evaluation and revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
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Support enforcement of the Artificial Intelligence Act, including provisions prohibiting harmful AI practices and requiring labelling of AI-generated content that could be misused for harassment.
Prevention through digital literacy
Prevention is a central component of the strategy. The Commission will revise its guidelines for educators on digital literacy, placing greater emphasis on respectful online conduct and early intervention.
Schools will receive expanded resources and training through the Safer Internet Centres network and the Better Internet for Kids platform.
The initiative is also linked to broader EU skills policy under the Union of Skills framework.
Safer Internet Day and wider initiatives
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to children’s rights through continued support for Safer Internet Day, launched in 2004 and now observed in around 160 countries worldwide.
Parallel initiatives include pilot projects for privacy-preserving age verification tools, work on the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, the creation of an expert panel on child online protection and research into the mental health impact of social media.
Scale of the problem
According to Commission estimates, roughly one in six children aged 11 to 15 report being victims of cyberbullying, while about one in eight admit to having bullied others online. A recent Eurobarometer survey found that over 90 percent of Europeans consider urgent public action necessary to protect children from the negative effects of social media, cyberbullying and age-inappropriate content.
The Action Plan was shaped by a targeted consultation involving more than 6,000 children, alongside broader public input.
Implementation will proceed in cooperation with Member States, industry, civil society, international organisations and children themselves. The Commission says the plan builds on existing legal frameworks while seeking to improve visibility and coordination of support tools already available across the EU.
The coming months will determine whether the proposed measures translate into more consistent protection for minors navigating Europe’s increasingly complex digital environment.