Better Internet for Kids

On 5 March, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the first meeting of the Special Panel on child online safety. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be unforgettable! As a BIK Youth Ambassador, I wasn’t just there as a student; I was there to represent young voices and talk about the real role social media plays in our lives today.

To be honest, my motivation came from seeing the gap between the people making the rules and the people actually scrolling through the apps. We live our lives online – it’s where we hang out, learn, and create. But often, the conversations about our safety happen without us in the room. I wanted to change that. I felt like I had a responsibility to bring our daily reality to the table. It’s one thing to read a report about “screen time”, but it’s another thing entirely to explain the pressure of algorithms or the way a platform’s design affects our mental health.

I admit that I was pretty stressed at first! Walking into a room at the European Commission is intimidating. Seeing high-level leaders like President Ursula von der Leyen made the gravity of the event sink in. But as soon as the discussion started, that stress turned into adrenaline.

One of my biggest highlights was realising that even though every benefit of social media comes with a risk, these platforms are still a huge part of who we are. I believe that we can’t just “turn off” the internet – we have to make it better. Another highlight was the collaboration with my fellow BIK Youth Ambassadors. We had to work together to condense all our ideas into a single, strong contribution. Seeing my peers speak with so much passion really inspired me to keep pushing for our voices to be heard.

This experience was very enriching for me in ways I didn't expect. Besides meeting the President of the European Commission, we spent hours listening to experts and researchers sharing some fascinating parts of their work. What hit me the most was that our young perspectives were treated as equal to those of the experts.

I learned that contributing to these big discussions is a skill in itself – one that I know will benefit me in the future. I realised that the decisions being made in these rooms will affect our lives and our future more than anyone else's. It felt like we weren't just "kids at a meeting" – we were partners in making the internet a safer space.

If I could share one reflection with other young people, it would be this:

Your voice is a tool – use it. Don’t ever feel like you’re "too young" to have an opinion on policy. To the adults and decision-makers, my message is that dialogue between everyone involved is exactly what will make a difference.

Participating in this panel showed me that when we highlight the importance of young voices, we actually start to see change. I’m leaving this experience feeling even more inspired to learn, to speak up, and to make sure the digital world is a place where we can all feel safe and empowered! 

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.