On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, the international day dedicated to a safer internet, the partner organisations of Betternet - the Belgian consortium bringing together Child Focus, Mediawijs, Média Animation and the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation aux médias (CSEM) - in collaboration with the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT), wished to draw attention to the practical implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by online platforms.
This European legislation imposes clear obligations to protect young users. Therefore, on Safer Internet Day, the Betternet partners organised an event to open the discussion: how can we strengthen young people's online experiences through both regulation and education?
"Respect for young people's rights online cannot depend solely on their own vigilance or that of their parents. Platforms must take responsibility. With the Digital Services Act (DSA), Europe has all the necessary tools. Now it is time for genuine implementation, clear choices and investments in trusted flaggers, helplines and media literacy," says Nel Broothaerts, CEO of Child Focus.
The Digital Services Act (DSA): from theory to practice to truly protect young people
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is European legislation that imposes obligations on online platforms to safeguard users' fundamental rights, including the protection of minors, algorithm transparency, and effective mechanisms for reporting illegal content.
Public debate in several countries is currently focusing on banning social media for children under the age of 15 or 16. According to the Betternet partners, however, this type of solution could create a false sense of security. Excluding children from well-known, regulated platforms risks pushing them towards less visible, less regulated, and often more dangerous online environments.
Age verification measures are not foolproof and have limited impact if the environment behind them remains risky. What does work is the principle underpinning the DSA: safety by design. In other words, platforms should provide safe default settings, age-appropriate functionalities, and clear boundaries. Children have the right to a digital world that protects and empowers them: a world that does not exclude them, but welcomes them safely. Rather than strict bans, a smart, courageous and nuanced approach is required. Alongside DSA legislation, both experts and young people emphasise that education and media literacy remain crucial to strengthening young people's critical thinking skills.
"Thanks to the collaboration between BIPT and the Betternet consortium, we can inform people as effectively as possible about the rights that the DSA offers them, while continuing to combine this with media literacy initiatives and listening to the voices of young people," says Karen Linten, Policy Advisor at Mediawijs.
Giving a place to the voices of young people
Today, social media plays a central role in the lives of children and young people. It offers them a space for self-expression, creativity, information and social interaction. For that very reason, it is essential to continue listening to young people's experiences and aspirations.
In the Apenstaartjaren 2024 report, Daisy (16) explains: "Sometimes I really want to know something, so I look it up on TikTok and I genuinely find good answers there. It's much easier than searching through long articles or something."
The voice of the Betternet Youth Team, a group of 15 young people coached by Child Focus to contribute to the project, was therefore also represented on this day. Together, these young people explored various social media platforms and identified their concerns and aspirations for a better digital environment. Their message is clear: they want digital spaces that protect them, respect them and promote their well-being. These young people are not rejecting social media; they are calling for change. They want safer, more transparent and more accountable platforms.
"Social media helps us break taboos, share our opinions, stay informed and remain connected. But we have to be honest: there are problems, and they weigh heavily on us. Because we are the ones using these platforms every day, we want to tell you what we are really experiencing," says Margot (17), member of the Betternet Youth Team.
A collective effort for Safer Internet Day
The event aimed to bring together Belgian and European stakeholders from media literacy, youth, regulation, and civil society to explore how the DSA can strengthen the online experiences of children and young people. Its focus was to make the DSA concrete, accessible and actionable by highlighting its legal, educational, and operational dimensions.
Find more information about the work of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness-raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
More on policy and regulation
On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, the international day dedicated to a safer internet, the partner organisations of Betternet - the Belgian consortium bringing together Child Focus, Mediawijs, Média Animation and the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation aux médias (CSEM) - in collaboration with the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT), wished to draw attention to the practical implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by online platforms.
This European legislation imposes clear obligations to protect young users. Therefore, on Safer Internet Day, the Betternet partners organised an event to open the discussion: how can we strengthen young people's online experiences through both regulation and education?
"Respect for young people's rights online cannot depend solely on their own vigilance or that of their parents. Platforms must take responsibility. With the Digital Services Act (DSA), Europe has all the necessary tools. Now it is time for genuine implementation, clear choices and investments in trusted flaggers, helplines and media literacy," says Nel Broothaerts, CEO of Child Focus.
The Digital Services Act (DSA): from theory to practice to truly protect young people
The Digital Services Act (DSA) is European legislation that imposes obligations on online platforms to safeguard users' fundamental rights, including the protection of minors, algorithm transparency, and effective mechanisms for reporting illegal content.
Public debate in several countries is currently focusing on banning social media for children under the age of 15 or 16. According to the Betternet partners, however, this type of solution could create a false sense of security. Excluding children from well-known, regulated platforms risks pushing them towards less visible, less regulated, and often more dangerous online environments.
Age verification measures are not foolproof and have limited impact if the environment behind them remains risky. What does work is the principle underpinning the DSA: safety by design. In other words, platforms should provide safe default settings, age-appropriate functionalities, and clear boundaries. Children have the right to a digital world that protects and empowers them: a world that does not exclude them, but welcomes them safely. Rather than strict bans, a smart, courageous and nuanced approach is required. Alongside DSA legislation, both experts and young people emphasise that education and media literacy remain crucial to strengthening young people's critical thinking skills.
"Thanks to the collaboration between BIPT and the Betternet consortium, we can inform people as effectively as possible about the rights that the DSA offers them, while continuing to combine this with media literacy initiatives and listening to the voices of young people," says Karen Linten, Policy Advisor at Mediawijs.
Giving a place to the voices of young people
Today, social media plays a central role in the lives of children and young people. It offers them a space for self-expression, creativity, information and social interaction. For that very reason, it is essential to continue listening to young people's experiences and aspirations.
In the Apenstaartjaren 2024 report, Daisy (16) explains: "Sometimes I really want to know something, so I look it up on TikTok and I genuinely find good answers there. It's much easier than searching through long articles or something."
The voice of the Betternet Youth Team, a group of 15 young people coached by Child Focus to contribute to the project, was therefore also represented on this day. Together, these young people explored various social media platforms and identified their concerns and aspirations for a better digital environment. Their message is clear: they want digital spaces that protect them, respect them and promote their well-being. These young people are not rejecting social media; they are calling for change. They want safer, more transparent and more accountable platforms.
"Social media helps us break taboos, share our opinions, stay informed and remain connected. But we have to be honest: there are problems, and they weigh heavily on us. Because we are the ones using these platforms every day, we want to tell you what we are really experiencing," says Margot (17), member of the Betternet Youth Team.
A collective effort for Safer Internet Day
The event aimed to bring together Belgian and European stakeholders from media literacy, youth, regulation, and civil society to explore how the DSA can strengthen the online experiences of children and young people. Its focus was to make the DSA concrete, accessible and actionable by highlighting its legal, educational, and operational dimensions.
Find more information about the work of the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness-raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
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