Better Internet for Kids

Upon entering the Knowledge hub on the new and relaunched Better Internet for Kids (BIK) platform, users are greeted with a comprehensive overview of this new resource's different features and components. It serves as a one-stop destination for accessing a wide array of resources and insights supporting the monitoring of the impact of the digital transformation on the well-being of children and young people in Europe. From timely, relevant research to legal guidelines and policy instruments across Europe, the hub is designed to inform the work of policymakers at both European and national levels while benefitting a wide range of other professional stakeholders acting in the BIK ecosystem. The landing page of the Knowledge hub presents an easy-to-navigate interface, guiding users through the main modules and directories designed to make the vast pool of information and materials readily accessible and user-friendly.

The BIK Policy monitor: A dashboard to review the implementation of the BIK+ strategy across Europe 

The core feature of the new Knowledge hub is the Policy monitor, which provides full access to annually collected data and insights on the implementation of the European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+ strategy) across all EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway. This module houses the Policy map, an interactive map feature that allows single-indicator exploration, the Policy index, an interactive radar chart function that provides an at-a-glance overview of the implementation of the BIK+ strategies in comparison to the EU average, and in comparison across countries, the Policy monitor country profiles, that give detailed insights into how the BIK+ strategy is implemented on the national levels, and the annual BIK Policy monitor report that gives a comprehensive EU-comparative overview of the state of play across all EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway. 

Directories signposting to relevant research and policy instruments 

The Knowledge hub furthermore features two directories: one collating relevant and timely research and reports informing the policy work in relation to the BIK+ strategy, and the other providing a comprehensive overview of relevant rules and guidelines, as well as policy instruments across Europe that bring the BIK+ strategy to life on the national level. Each directory entry provides English language summaries of the collated items, indicates focus topics, and signposts to the original source of the document or policy. All entries are easily accessible and function as the ideal first point of contact for research and policy instruments relevant to practices across European countries. The directory of rules and guidelines, in particular, is the perfect access point to learn from best policy practices across the EU and get in touch with relevant national bodies to foster mutual learning and knowledge exchange across borders. 

Knowledge hub insights 

This article series draws on research, policy instruments, and insights collated across the Knowledge hub and the BIK platform at large and provides commentary and analysis on emerging trends and challenges in the digital space from multiple perspectives, including policy, practice, youth, industry, and academia.

Articles delve into critical issues like addictive design, cyberbullying, age assurance and manipulative marketing practices, spotlighting how the digital environment is developing and the policies and practices that are responding to the ever-evolving needs of children and young people in the digital environment. 

A collaborative effort creating a dynamic infrastructure 

The data, policy insights, and resources collated in the new Knowledge hub are updated annually. This annual updating cycle is enabled by a robust network of European policy and e-safety experts that contribute to this infrastructure directly and indirectly across the Better Internet for Kids initiative. Their work is indispensable in delivering timely insights into the states of play at the national level, and we thank them for their unwavering support and commitment to developing this infrastructure together!