Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Spain.
According to the Digital Decade 2025: Country reports, Spain’s digital landscape in 2025 is defined by world-class infrastructure and high individual proficiency, though with some challenges in the macroeconomic contribution of the ICT sector. Spain is a top EU performer in connectivity, with Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and Very High-Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage reaching approximately 95% of households, while 5G availability covers 96% of the population. Levels of digital skills are high, with 66% of the population possessing basic digital skills, exceeding the EU average, but with lower-than-average gender and rural digital divides.
According to the State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment is broadly positive, with 70% of citizens agreeing that digitalisation simplifies daily life, though there is high demand for increased cybersecurity (81%) and protection against disinformation (83%). Strategically, Spain’s transformation is guided by the "España Digital 2026" framework and specialised plans for SME digitalisation, digital skills, and public administration.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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 Spain:
- 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 is very important in national policies on children and the digital environment (for instance, it is explicitly referenced in national policies)
National/regional policies and policy documents explicitly recognise children's rights in the digital environment.
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 Spain:
- 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 Spain:
- One central body (e.g., the central ministry office, public agency, or regulatory authority) is officially mandated to lead and develop policies, guidelines, and programmes relating to children and the digital environment, consulting with other departments as needed.
- Coordination occurs across relevant departments and stakeholders through more informal arrangements.
- One or more programmes of action areunderway 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 Spain:
- A formal, designated multi-stakeholder forum is in place that consistently engages all relevant stakeholder groups (e.g., government, civil society, private sector, academia, children, and caregivers) and plays a meaningful role in policy discussion and development.
- 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 actively involved in the design of policies related to their participation in the digital environment. There are specially designed structures in place for this purpose.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content rating systems for online/video games | X | |||
| DSC measures protection of minors | X | |||
| DSC-SIC working relationship | X | |||
| Definition of harmful online content | X | |||
| Complaints handling mechanism | X | |||
| Intimate image abuse laws | X | |||
| Cyberbullying laws | X |
|
|
|
| Age verification requirements | X |
|
|
|
| Digital wallet for minors |
| X |
|
|
| EU harmonised age verification |
| X |
|
|
| Laws on online marketing |
|
| X |
|
| Protecting mental health and wellbeing |
| X |
|
|
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching online safety | X | |||
| Digital skills training | X | |||
| Policies on digital use in schools | X | |||
| Adequate teacher training | X | |||
| Non-formal online safety education | X | |||
| Critical media literacy | X | |||
| Creative digital skills | X | |||
| Supports for parents | X |
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
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting civic engagement | X | |||
| Promoting children’s rights | X | |||
| Child-friendly policy documents | X | |||
| Addressing digital inequalities | X | |||
| Positive digital content | X |
BIK+ index 2026: Spain
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 Spain compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.
Figure 1: BIK+ index 2026: Spain - EU27+2 average comparison
Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in January 2026.
Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Spain.
According to the Digital Decade 2025: Country reports, Spain’s digital landscape in 2025 is defined by world-class infrastructure and high individual proficiency, though with some challenges in the macroeconomic contribution of the ICT sector. Spain is a top EU performer in connectivity, with Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and Very High-Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage reaching approximately 95% of households, while 5G availability covers 96% of the population. Levels of digital skills are high, with 66% of the population possessing basic digital skills, exceeding the EU average, but with lower-than-average gender and rural digital divides.
According to the State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment is broadly positive, with 70% of citizens agreeing that digitalisation simplifies daily life, though there is high demand for increased cybersecurity (81%) and protection against disinformation (83%). Strategically, Spain’s transformation is guided by the "España Digital 2026" framework and specialised plans for SME digitalisation, digital skills, and public administration.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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 Spain:
- 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 is very important in national policies on children and the digital environment (for instance, it is explicitly referenced in national policies)
National/regional policies and policy documents explicitly recognise children's rights in the digital environment.
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 Spain:
- 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 Spain:
- One central body (e.g., the central ministry office, public agency, or regulatory authority) is officially mandated to lead and develop policies, guidelines, and programmes relating to children and the digital environment, consulting with other departments as needed.
- Coordination occurs across relevant departments and stakeholders through more informal arrangements.
- One or more programmes of action areunderway 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 Spain:
- A formal, designated multi-stakeholder forum is in place that consistently engages all relevant stakeholder groups (e.g., government, civil society, private sector, academia, children, and caregivers) and plays a meaningful role in policy discussion and development.
- 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 actively involved in the design of policies related to their participation in the digital environment. There are specially designed structures in place for this purpose.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content rating systems for online/video games | X | |||
| DSC measures protection of minors | X | |||
| DSC-SIC working relationship | X | |||
| Definition of harmful online content | X | |||
| Complaints handling mechanism | X | |||
| Intimate image abuse laws | X | |||
| Cyberbullying laws | X |
|
|
|
| Age verification requirements | X |
|
|
|
| Digital wallet for minors |
| X |
|
|
| EU harmonised age verification |
| X |
|
|
| Laws on online marketing |
|
| X |
|
| Protecting mental health and wellbeing |
| X |
|
|
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching online safety | X | |||
| Digital skills training | X | |||
| Policies on digital use in schools | X | |||
| Adequate teacher training | X | |||
| Non-formal online safety education | X | |||
| Critical media literacy | X | |||
| Creative digital skills | X | |||
| Supports for parents | X |
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
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting civic engagement | X | |||
| Promoting children’s rights | X | |||
| Child-friendly policy documents | X | |||
| Addressing digital inequalities | X | |||
| Positive digital content | X |
BIK+ index 2026: Spain
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 Spain compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.
Figure 1: BIK+ index 2026: Spain - EU27+2 average comparison
Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in January 2026.
