What is the Digital Services Act (DSA)?

Online platforms are a big part of everyday life for children and teenagers. Whether it’s meeting friends, watching videos, playing games or learning something new. But being online also comes with serious risks. Kids and teens might:

	see harmful or upsetting content that makes them feel uncomfortable, scared or disturbed
	be contacted by strangers with bad intentions
	be cyberbullied
	feel pressured to buy things
	participate in dangerous challenges
	find it hard to put the phone down.

To help make the internet safer, in 2022 the European Union (EU) created the Digital Services Act (DSA). This regulation applies to online platforms in all countries in the EU. It aims to help keeping all internet users safe – including kids and teens – from these and other risks, as well as protecting fundamental rights online.

All online platforms must follow the DSA and help keep users safe in the EU.

Further information and resources

Guidelines on the protection of minors under the DSA (EU languages)

The Digital Services Act (DSA) on the BIK portal

DSA for YOUth: Protecting minors by design

Do you want to learn more about the DSA? Check out this booklet, explaining the measures to protect kids and teens online.

The DSA explained booklet

The DSA explained

dsa — How does the DSA keep kids and teens safe?

dsa — Who has to follow the guidelines on the protection of minors?

What are the key principles behind the guidelines?

dsa — Risk review: every platform comes with different risks

dsa — Age assurance: how platforms check your age

dsa — Registration: information and empowerment from the beginning

dsa — Account settings: privacy and safety you can control

dsa — Interfaces: designing platforms to be easy and safe to use

dsa — Recommender systems and search features: helping kids stay in control

dsa — Commercial practices: helping kids and teens understand what’s being promoted and sold

dsa — Moderation: keeping platforms safe and respectful

dsa — Reporting: making it easy to speak up and get help

dsa — Who makes sure the DSA rules are followed?

dsa — Guide to some of the words and phrases when talking about the DSA

Online platforms are a big part of everyday life for children and teenagers. Whether it’s meeting friends, watching videos, playing games or learning something new. But being online also comes with serious risks. Kids and teens might:

	see harmful or upsetting content that makes them feel uncomfortable, scared or disturbed
	be contacted by strangers with bad intentions
	be cyberbullied
	feel pressured to buy things
	participate in dangerous challenges
	find it hard to put the phone down.

To help make the internet safer, in 2022 the European Union (EU) created the Digital Services Act (DSA). This regulation applies to online platforms in all countries in the EU. It aims to help keeping all internet users safe – including kids and teens – from these and other risks, as well as protecting fundamental rights online.

All online platforms must follow the DSA and help keep users safe in the EU.