The Roundtable event was organised both with the New Consumer Agenda in mind, which was published in 2020 and the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+), which was published in May this year.  

The New Consumer Agenda acknowledges the requirement to address specific consumer needs and the needs of children and young people who are exposed to misleading and aggressive commercial practices online. It also stresses the importance of investing more in lifelong consumer education and awareness raising for people at all stages of life from school onwards.  

BIK+ aims to complement and support the practical implementation of the existing measures to protect children online, develop young people’s digital skills, and empower them to safely enjoy and shape their life online. 

Next steps

This Roundtable on child and youth consumer protection in digital markets is just the start of the discussion. Through the new BIK+ strategy and other instruments, the European Commission will seek to work with a range of stakeholders to address consumer risks for children and young people online, and will continue to foster closer collaboration between European Consumer Centres and Safer Internet Centres in this regard. For more information about the network of Safer Internet Centres, visit the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) website. To learn more about European Consumer Centres, visit the website of the European Commission. 

A full report from the Roundtable is available. Read the full roundtable report (which includes a four-page executive summary and key priorities for social media and gaming platforms) on the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) portal.