Better Internet for Kids

Launched by the European Commission in May 2022, the BIK+ strategy builds on two decades of EU leadership in online child safety. This first evaluation draws on direct input from more than 750 children and young people – including those from vulnerable backgrounds – alongside consultations with more than 360 adult stakeholders, including educators, parents, representatives and experts from civil society, academia, industry, and policymaking. Together, their voices provide a 360-degree view of the strategy’s successes and the challenges that remain.

Listening to young people, responding to their realities

Children and young people welcomed efforts to create safer online spaces but flagged persistent issues such as exposure to harmful content, online scams, and privacy breaches. Many called for clearer, more accessible reporting tools and simpler privacy policies, especially for younger users and those with disabilities. The evaluation also found a strong appetite among young people to be more involved in shaping digital environments, from platform design to policymaking at national and EU levels.

Digital empowerment emerged as a key priority. Young participants voiced the need for more hands-on, age-appropriate education, including lessons on media literacy, privacy management, and responsible use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Insights from across the ecosystem

Educators and parents echoed many of the concerns raised by children, while also acknowledging their own need for greater support in navigating digital risks. Many of the consulted adults expressed a desire for improved digital literacy training, clearer guidance on emerging tech such as AI, and better tools to support their roles as digital mentors.

Expert stakeholders identified systemic gaps that must be addressed, including the need for longitudinal research into children’s digital experiences, improved regulatory consistency across Member States, and stronger cross-sector partnerships.

Recommendations for future action

Based on the findings, the report outlines actionable further steps by the Commission, Member States and industry, including:

• Simplifying reporting mechanisms: ensure child- and parent-friendly design of reporting tools across platforms, with clear instructions and follow-up.
• Enhancing digital education: Integrate media literacy, AI education, and digital resilience into core school curricula; ensure state-supported teacher training and accessible resources for parents.
• Fostering youth participation: Establish structured, ongoing opportunities for children to contribute to digital service development and policymaking, such as youth advisory boards and regional forums.
• Supporting families and educators: Promote peer-to-peer and cross-generational learning models, raise awareness of national Safer Internet Centres, and ensure more inclusive communication on platform safety features.
• Bridging policy and practice: Align national and EU-level strategies more closely, and act on expert advice to harmonise regulation and strengthen accountability across sectors.
• Addressing expert-identified gaps: Act on the recommendations from expert stakeholders to strengthen the strategy’s impact. For example, invest in longitudinal studies to better understand the effects of digital engagement on children, harmonise regulatory frameworks across the EU to simplify industry compliance, and promote cross-sector partnerships to develop innovative solutions for online safety and inclusivity.
• Increasing support for European Safer Internet Centres: Efforts should focus on raising awareness about national Safer Internet Centres and the support they offer, particularly among parents.

Looking ahead

This first evaluation confirms that BIK+ has already made a meaningful impact, but also underscores the need for sustained action in an increasingly complex digital world. The report reinforces that creating a better internet is not only a matter of child protection, but also one of participation, education, and shared responsibility.

As digital technologies evolve, the voices of children, families, and educators must remain central in shaping the policies and platforms of tomorrow. The findings and recommendations presented in this evaluation offer a vital roadmap for strengthening the BIK+ strategy and ensuring it continues to meet the needs of Europe’s youngest digital citizens.

Read the full BIK+ strategy evaluation report and subscribe to the quarterly BIK bulletin to stay informed on next steps and upcoming actions.