Better Internet for Kids

Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Finland.

According to the Digital Decade 2025: Country reports, Finland is a technological leader within the EU, characterised by a highly agile digital economy and a very skilled population. According to 2025 reports, the nation’s ICT sector is a primary engine of growth, contributing 5.8% to gross value added and accounting for over 36% of total business R&D expenditure. Finnish enterprises lead the way in digital adoption, with 92.5% of SMEs reaching basic digital intensity and a remarkable 73% utilizing cloud services – both figures significantly surpassing EU averages. Infrastructure remains a core strength, particularly in mobile connectivity, where Finland boasts near-universal 5G coverage (99.5%) even in sparsely populated areas. A high level of digital skills is also in evidence. 82% of the population possesses basic digital skills, the highest rate in the EU. According to the State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 86% of citizens agreeing that digitalisation simplifies their lives, though 96% call for urgent action against cyberbullying. Strategically, Finland is securing its long-term sovereignty through a comprehensive suite of policies, including the 6G Bridge programme, a new 2024-2035 cybersecurity strategy, and dedicated strategies for advanced technologies. 

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Finland.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.[BON1] 

BIK policies

This concerns how national-level policies relevant to the BIK agenda are organised, managed, and supported by evidence and stakeholder input.

Policy frameworks

Policy frameworks describe the overarching goals that shape policies for a better internet for kids. 

In Finland:

• This topic is an important and emerging policy priority partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
• The topic of children and the digital environment is covered by broader policies rather than in separate dedicated policies.
• The BIK+ strategy informs national policies but is not the main influence.
• Children's rights in relation to the digital environment are an important and emerging policy priority, with specific policies in development on this topic

Policy design

Policy design asks whether evidence and research support BIK-related policies and whether systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating those policies.

In Finland:

• Quantitative data on some aspects of children’s digital activity is collected regularly as part of broader surveys.
• Some but not all aspects of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being are included in regular surveys.
• Information is regularly gathered to inform policies on children and the digital environment. However, this relies primarily on third-party sources, and there are limited opportunities to commission new data on children's digital activity. 
• Existing regular national research funding is available for research on children and the digital environment, but this is not explicitly specified.  
• Policies are regularly monitored and evaluated, but not always systematically.

Policy governance

Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery and coordination.

In Finland:

• Policy development sits across different ministries with leadership officially distributed according to the area of specialisation.
• Policy coordination and implementation are spread across multiple entities without a clear central coordination mandate or mechanism. Coordination is inconsistent or siloed, leading to potential duplication, gaps, or fragmentation in addressing children’s needs in the digital environment.
• One or more programmes of action is/are underway supporting children’s online safety and participation in the digital environment. However, these lack accountabilities, such as defined timelines, assigned responsibilities or key performance indicators (KPIs). 

Stakeholder involvement

Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development.

In Finland:

• Stakeholders are involved through various existing groups or platforms across different government branches. While opportunities for engagement exist, they are not centrally coordinated, and stakeholder participation may vary in consistency or influence.
• The public is consulted during the development of new BIK policies. While engagement is structured and meaningful, it is event-driven and does not occur outside of major policy formulation efforts. 
• Children are listened to directly in the policy development process but are not formally involved in decision-making.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Finland.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.[BON2] 

BIK+ actions

Pillar 1 – safe digital experiences

Safe digital experiences refer to actions taken to protect children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, contact, and risks as young consumers and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment created in a way that respects children’s best interests.

Table 1: Safe digital experiences - Finland

Pillar 2 – Digital empowerment

Digital empowerment involves actions that ensure all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and to express themselves safely and responsibly in the online environment.

Table 2: Digital empowerment - Finland

Pillar 3 – Active participation, respecting children’s rights

This includes actions that promote young people's active participation and respect for their rights through such activities as fostering innovative and creative safe digital experiences for young people and ensuring they have a say in policies governing the digital environment.

Table 3: Active participation, respecting rights - Finland

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Finland.

Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.[BON3] 

BIK+ index 2026: Finland

The BIK+ index has been developed to provide an aggregated at-a-glance overview of the levels of implementation across the two dimensions, BIK policies and BIK+ actions, in Finland compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.

Figure 1: BIK+ index 2026: Finland - EU27+2 average comparison

Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in January 2026.