Better Internet for Kids

On 5 March 2026, I had the immense honour of travelling to Brussels for the first meeting of the Special Panel on child safety online. Serving as a BIK+ youth representative for this milestone event was both a privilege and a profound responsibility. It was fascinating to meet experts from various fields, including health, computer science, and child rights, from across the EU, and to be a youth voice in that room meant representing millions of young Europeans whose daily lives are deeply intertwined with the digital world.

My drive to participate stems from the fact that social media has become central to young people's lives across the European Union. It is part of our identity, community, communication, and learning. Yet, we can’t ignore the very real risks, such as addictive platform designs and exposure to harmful content. We want to ensure that the policies being drafted do not resort to overly restrictive, one-size-fits-all solutions. Young people want protection, not control. My primary motivation was to advocate for regulating addictive and manipulative design at the system level, rather than simply banning young people from these spaces.

A major highlight of the event was the opportunity to engage directly with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. In her opening speech, she emphasised that while we have made the real world safer for children for decades, we must now do the same in the digital world. It was incredibly important to see her put those words into action by actively listening to our input. Throughout the formal session and even during our breaks, having the chance to share youth perspectives on digital rights, age limits, and platform design was truly impactful.

The parallel breakout sessions were equally memorable, offering a unique space to brainstorm with specialists across various disciplines. These discussions with top scholars and advocacy groups felt like a genuine effort, focused entirely on discovering what actually works in practice.

One of my biggest takeaways from our discussions is that creating a safer internet requires a highly nuanced, multi-stakeholder approach. While the panel is actively exploring the need for potential harmonised age restrictions to access social media, there is a shared understanding among youth that age restrictions are, in principle, not seen as an adequate stand-alone solution. Blanket bans remove valuable opportunities for connection and learning.

Instead, we believe in addressing the root causes of online harm, like engagement-driven AI, infinite scrolling, and manipulative features, rather than just putting up a digital fence. The responsibility needs to shift from the users to the platforms.

We also need to back this up with real investments in media literacy and safe offline spaces so young people can build resilience. This experience reinforced just how crucial our grassroots work is. Through my own work with BIK Youth and the Safer Internet Centre Generazioni Connesse in Italy, I see first-hand how these national centres bridge the gap between high-level policy and local youth, providing the trusted spaces and critical thinking skills we need to navigate the digital world safely.

If I could share one message with other young people, it is that our voices carry immense weight. The perspectives of young people are a key part of the discussions on placing limits on social media use, proving that we are active co-creators of our digital future. 

We are currently working to shape the EU's online safety recommendations, which the Special Panel will deliver by summer 2026. I encourage every young person to stay informed, speak up, and claim their space in these critical conversations. 

Read the full press release and find further information about the special panel on child safety online.

Discover more about youth participation activities in the BIK Youth section of the portal.