Five years after she first took office as President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen was reappointed, and with her new mandate come new priorities. While the EC’s focus is far-ranging across many different topics that affect Europeans at large, there is a definite focus on the safety of young people online.

Among the digital priorities set by President von der Leyen for her 2024 to 2029 mandate are measures against cyberbullying, research into the impacts of social media on well-being, combatting unethical techniques online, such as the addictive design of some online services, disinformation, and protecting the mental health of children and young people – particularly online. 

President von der Leyen also wants “to make sure that young people can use their voice – their own voice – to help shape our future”.

Building on over 20 years of expertise, the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) initiative will play an important role in responding to these very challenges. Everything BIK does revolves around making the internet a positive place for young people, where they can enjoy entertainment, friendships and a treasury of knowledge, without the risk of exploitation, manipulation, or danger or any kind of harm, be it mental, emotional or physical. 

Digital safety is a priority

President von der Leyen also presented a list of Commissioners-designate and their portfolios on 17 September of this year. Each Commissioner will have their own mission for the next five years. Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen’s mission will be the one that impacts the aims of BIK to the greatest degree and she will strongly be contributing to the research into the impacts of social media and cyberbullying, and combatting unethical techniques online that exploit consumer vulnerabilities for commercial purposes. 

BIK pillars of digital safety

The BIK+ strategy is built upon three pillars:

• Pillar 1: safe digital experiences to protect children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, contact and consumer risks and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment, created in a way that respects children’s best interests;
• Pillar 2: digital empowerment so children acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and express themselves in the online environment safely and responsibly;
• Pillar 3: active participation, respecting children by giving them a say in the digital environment, with more child-led activities to foster innovative and creative safe digital experiences. 
  The new priorities set out in the EC mandate are timely reminders of the ongoing relevance of these three pillars.

“The early and teenage years are critical for brain and personality development – and are also times of vulnerability to harms from social media and excessive screen time. We must have an open and evidence-based debate on this issue. This is why we will launch an EU-wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media on well-being. We will tackle unethical techniques used by online platforms by taking action on the addictive design of online services, such as infinite scroll, default auto play or constant push. We will also firmly combat the growing trend of abusive behaviour online with an action plan against cyberbullying." – EC President Ursula von der Leyen

Young people are among the most vulnerable in society, and as frequent and early users of technology, are even more so in the digital space. They are at risk of exploitation in various forms, be it from predators online, dark algorithms built to keep them zoned into their screens for unhealthy periods of time or on inappropriate content, or companies who use unethical means to market their products on channels mainly designed for them. 

The EC’s attention to these issues will play a crucial role in driving the work of Better Internet for Kids forward to ensure that every child in Europe is protected, empowered and respected online. 

Discover more about Better Internet for Kids and Safer Internet Centres (SICs) throughout Europe which include awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services.