What’s the campaign about? 

DSAforYOUth - Protecting minors by design is a European campaign raising awareness on the new Digital Services Act (DSA), a regulation that is already in force and regulates how digital platforms must operate to protect users, ensure transparency, and prevent the spread of illegal content. This regulation directly impacts our daily lives, especially that of minors, who are frequent users of the digital environment. 

The DSA establishes new guidelines specifically designed to protect children and adolescents in the digital environment. Among these, it requires platforms to tailor content according to age, ensure minors' privacy, and use tools like age verification with the goal of creating safer online spaces suitable for each stage of development. It also focuses on preventing risks associated with the use of social media, video games, and other digital platforms, helping to reduce exposure to inappropriate content and harmful behaviours, such as cyberbullying. 

INCIBE Minors, part of the Spanish Safer Internet Centre (SIC), is committed to promoting the implementation of these measures, facilitating their understanding and application in educational and family settings. The Centre works to ensure that minors can navigate safe digital environments, tailored to their age and needs, fostering a positive and responsible online experience. 

Why is it important for families and educators? 

Parents, caregivers, teachers, and educators are at the front line, supporting children and teenagers in their digital lives. Often, they might have questions or not know where to start when it comes to certain topics: How can I tell if a platform is safe? What rights do minors have online? Where do I begin if I want to talk about these topics? 

The aim of the DSAforYOUth campaign is to offer accessible resources to help understand and implement these measures in daily life, encouraging more responsible and mindful internet use, while ensuring that minors enjoy a safe digital experience that respects their rights and is suited to their needs. 

• For families: it’s an opportunity to discover useful tools like age verification and other protective measures, because ensuring digital safety is not just about setting limits. It’s also about parental mediation through education, guidance, and support.
• For educators: the resources are a helpful tool for integrating digital education into the classroom, aligned with European regulations. 

What resources will you find? 

The materials are available on the DSAforYOUth campaign website and have been designed to make it easier to understand the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its implications. These resources are intended to be used both at home and in educational settings. They include: 

• the DSAforYOUth toolkit, containing practical toolkits with information for parents and educators;
• a family-friendly bookletthat explain, in simple terms, Article 28 of the DSA with the guidelines on the protection of minors online;
• videos created by young people, showing how they perceive online risks and the proposed solutions;
• webinars with experts offering practical advice and best practices.
• an interactive quizwith 10 questions, to test your knowledge of the DSA.
• SIC perspectives with real-life examples of how the DSA is being applied in different European countries. 

An opportunity to learn and act 

Ultimately, the DSAforYOUth campaign is an opportunity to learn and apply guidelines that contribute to creating a safer digital environment tailored to the needs of young people. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply interested in online safety, this campaign invites you to be part of the change.

Find more information about the work of the Spanish Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.