As children spend more time online, parents and policymakers are facing growing concerns over addictive platform design, harmful content and digital risks. The European Union is stepping up efforts to ensure young people can enjoy the benefits of technology while remaining safe online.
For today's children and teenagers, the internet is woven into almost every aspect of daily life. Digital platforms help young people learn, communicate, socialise and explore the world around them. At the same time, however, the online environment is becoming increasingly complex, exposing children to risks that previous generations never had to navigate.
Many modern platforms are designed to maximise engagement through features such as infinite scrolling, short-form videos and highly personalised content recommendations. While these tools can improve user experience, they also make it easier for young people to spend extended periods online, often without realising how much time has passed. The longer children remain online, the greater the likelihood they may encounter harmful content, misinformation, cyberbullying or online predators.
Building safer online habits
Experts stress that digital safety starts with education. Children should be encouraged to avoid sharing personal information with strangers, maintain private profiles where possible and use strong, unique passwords for their online accounts.
Equally important is teaching young users how to recognise troubling behaviour. Children and teenagers should know that they can block and report people who bully them, pressure them into sharing information or make them feel uncomfortable online.
Parents and caregivers also play a vital role. Setting healthy screen-time boundaries, ensuring that apps and games are age-appropriate and encouraging open conversations about online experiences can significantly reduce risks.
Another growing concern is "sharenting," the practice of parents frequently sharing photos and videos of their children online. Specialists recommend carefully considering what information is posted publicly, as digital footprints can remain online for years.
How the EU is responding
The European Union has made child protection online a major priority. The European Commission says online platforms must take additional steps to safeguard minors, including limiting harmful recommendations, improving reporting mechanisms and offering clearer controls over the content children see online.
The Commission has also launched a broader initiative on Protecting Children Online aimed at helping families understand both the opportunities and dangers of the digital world.
In 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen established a special panel of experts tasked with developing a practical European approach to online child safety. The group is examining ways to better protect young users while preserving access to the educational and social benefits of digital technologies.
From cyberbullying to online exploitation
The EU's work extends beyond content moderation. Current initiatives focus on tackling cyberbullying, protecting children's personal data, preventing online sexual abuse, ensuring fair advertising practices and improving digital literacy skills.
Particular attention is being paid to helping children identify misinformation and navigate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The Commission also supports tools that help parents ensure children use age-appropriate services and enjoy safer digital experiences across social media platforms, gaming environments and video-streaming services.
What comes next
Further legislation is already being developed to address emerging risks.
The proposed Digital Fairness Act is expected to target so-called dark patterns, addictive platform features, misleading influencer marketing and unfair personalisation practices that can exploit younger users.
At the same time, a forthcoming Action Plan on the Protection of Children against Crime aims to strengthen protections against online grooming, exploitation and other criminal threats targeting minors.
Supporters of these initiatives argue that keeping children safe online requires more than simply removing harmful content after it appears. Instead, digital services should be designed from the outset with children's wellbeing in mind.
As young people spend an increasing share of their lives online, the challenge for parents, educators, governments and technology companies is clear: ensuring that the digital world remains a place of opportunity, without becoming a source of harm.
