Better Internet for Kids

As part of the #NotOnOurFeed youth contest on cyberbullying, young people were invited to share their ideas, experiences and creative perspectives on how we can make the online world a kinder and safer place. The public has voted for the winner!

Cyberbullying remains one of the most significant challenges affecting children and young people online across Europe. According to the latest findings from the EU Kids Online network, around one in six children aged 9–16 report having experienced bullying online, highlighting the continued need for coordinated prevention and education efforts across countries.

The BIK Knowledge hub is a central access point for information, evidence, and policy insights on the impact of digital transformation on the lives of children and young people in the EU and beyond.

On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, three BIK Youth Ambassadors from Belgium, Cyprus and Portugal travelled to Brussels to take part in a Youth Policy Dialogue on cyberbullying and the protection of minors online. Organised by the European Commission, the dialogue brought around 20 young people together with Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Glenn Micallef.

INCIBE launched an awareness campaign featuring various types of content aimed at understanding the features this technology offers young people, as well as promoting safe and respectful usage of AI.

INHOPE hotlines received 326,776 reports during the second quarter of 2026 (April – June), as they continued to assess and respond to reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The proposed EU KIDS Act prohibits social media accounts for children under 13 and provides for parent-supervised accounts for children aged 13 and 14. It also imposes safety by design on the online platforms and services children use most: no addictive tricks leading to excessive use, no spending traps, no contact from strangers, and safe settings by default.

The Insafe network of helplines collects data on calls received and analyses it every three months to identify trends and emerging issues. Helpline data from the second quarter of 2026 (April – June) included data from 23 helplines in 22 countries. The data showed that the helplines processed over 15,700 contacts related to online issues during this period.

The National Contact Centre for children’s safety on the internet was very active with its intensive educational activities across the Republic of Serbia throughout the summer school holidays.

Cyberbullying affected 54 per cent of Ukrainian school children this past school year, and fewer children are staying silent about online risks.