Better Internet for Kids

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

As shown in the https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/digital-decade-2025-country-reportsDigital Decade 2025: Country reports, Sweden is a global leader in digital development, with a mature, innovation-led digital economy and a highly skilled workforce. According to recent data, the ICT sector is a cornerstone of the Swedish economy, accounting for 6.2% of the country’s Gross Value Added and nearly 29% of all business R&D expenditure. In terms of infrastructure, Sweden has 90% coverage for Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCN) and a near-universal 5G reach of 99%, including significant expansion into rural areas. Human capital remains a primary strength, with 70.4% of the population possessing at least basic digital skills and ICT specialists accounting for 8.4% of total employment, the highest in the EU. 

According to the https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3362State of the Digital Decade Eurobarometer 2025, public sentiment is highly supportive of this transition, as 84% of citizens agree that digitalisation simplifies their daily lives. However, there is a clear demand for enhanced safety, with 94% of the population urging public authorities to prioritise the protection of minors and combat cyberbullying. Sweden has implemented a comprehensive policy framework, including the National Connectivity Strategy, a proactive National Cybersecurity Strategy (2025–2029), and a robust AI strategy focused on ethical governance and improved computing capacity. 

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

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 Sweden:         

• This topic is comprehensively addressed in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
• There are separate, dedicated policies which address the topic of children and the digital environment.

• 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 Sweden:         

• There is a regular nationally representative survey specifically focused on children’s digital activity, which informs national policies on BIK topics.
• Regular surveys include measures of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being.
• Systems are in place at the government level to gather information on children and the digital environment.
• 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 Sweden:         

• Policy development sits across different ministries with leadership officially distributed according to the area of specialisation. 
• Coordination occurs across relevant departments and stakeholders through more informal arrangements.
• One or more programmes of action are underway supporting children’s online safety and participation in the digital environment. 

Stakeholder involvement

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

In Sweden:         

• A formal, designated multi-stakeholder forum is in place that consistently engages all relevant stakeholder groups. 
• 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 Sweden.

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 – Sweden

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 – Sweden

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 - Sweden

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

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

BIK+ index 2026: Sweden            

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 Sweden compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.

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