Shaping the future of online safety together

The Safer Internet Forum (SIF) 2025 took place on Thursday, 4 December 2025 in a hybrid format, bringing together policymakers, educators, law enforcement, researchers, industry representatives, NGOs, parents, and young people from across Europe and beyond. This year’s forum explored the theme: “Why age matters: Protecting and empowering youth in the digital age.”

Thanks to the active participation of all stakeholders, SIF 2025 was a successful opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss ways to support children and young people online.

Youth at the heart of the Forum

In line with previous editions, SIF was youth-led.  

Two key youth groups played a central role:

• BIK Youth Panel 2025.  Comprising 33 young people aged 13 to 18 from 25 European countries, including five members of the EU Children’s Participation Platform, the panel spent months preparing for the Forum. They explored topics such as age-appropriate online experiences, social media age restrictions, and responsible gaming, developing materials and presentations to contribute directly to discussions in Brussels.
• SIF Youth Advisory Group (YAG) 2025. Six young people supported the planning, selected speakers, and designed sessions. They also chaired discussions and worked alongside policymakers and industry experts during the Forum, ensuring the youth perspective remained central.

By giving young people a voice in shaping the Forum, SIF 2025 demonstrated the value of youth-led dialogue for informed policy and in informing policy and for proposing practical solutions.

Key discussions and highlights

The Forum included a rich programme of sessions, among which:

• High-level opening

The Forum kicked off with a conversational dialogue, aiming to bring youth perspectives directly to a senior EU policymaker. Erik, Gabriele and Marta from the SIF Youth Advisory Group were joined by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, to discuss key issues, such as what the EU is doing to help young people feel safer online, the role of parents and caregivers, and where the responsibility for online safety lies.

•  Why age matters – Keynote by Julie Inman Grant

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner set the stage for the day by exploring the benefits and risks of online content and services for children. The keynote highlighted the developmental, social, and emotional impacts of digital environments, stressing the importance of age-aware design, platform responsibility, and supportive policies.

• Supporting parents – Panel discussions

Panels brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, and industry experts to discuss practical ways to help parents guide their children online with confidentlyconfidence. Topics included parental control tools, digital literacy, risk awareness, and collaborative approaches between families, schools, and platforms to foster safe, empowering online experiences for young users.

• Responsible gaming – Youth-led workshop

Young participants led sessions on video game age ratings and parental tools, sharing their personal experiences alongside parents and experts. Discussions explored strategies for healthy gaming habits, transparency in in-game purchases, and collaboration between industry and families to ensure games are safe, enjoyable, and age-appropriate.

• Age-appropriate design and social media – Roundtables & and breakouts

Interactive sessions examined how social media can balance safety with children’s rights and inclusion. Young people shared firsthand perspectives on platform design, highlighting features that support privacy, moderation, and accessibility.

Looking ahead

The insights and discussions from SIF 2025 provide a foundation for future strategies and initiatives to create safer, age-appropriate online experiences. By continuing to involve young people in shaping these conversations, upcoming policies, tools, and resources can better respond to the needs of children, supporting safer, more empowering digital environments across Europe.

Learn more about the Safer Internet Forum 2025 at: better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/sif.