The discussion was held on 3 February 2026 as part of safer internet month, and focused on two themes: how digital media affects democratic dialogue, and how online hate and threats limit young people’s engagement. The aim was for young people to gather around, discuss and find solutions.
“The internet is not a separate part of young people’s lives. It is a central arena for identity, engagement, and power.”
With those words, Devansh Kashyap from the National Union of Students in Sweden (Elevernas Riksförbund) opened the roundtable discussion that brought together the Swedish Safer Internet Centre’s youth panel and additional representatives from youth organisations.
Young participants’ perspective on life online
The youth representatives described a digital everyday life where democratic challenges, social media functions, and increasing hate and threats are interconnected.
Algorithms and filtering push aside different perspectives, a problem reinforced by AI-generated content and disinformation. This can make it difficult to determine what is actually true, the participants expressed.
Hate and threats are common on social media and cause many young people to refrain from participating in public conversations. Vague reporting functions and a high tolerance for abusive behaviour online contribute to the normalisation of hate and threats.
Young people’s solutions for safer online environments
The participants called for a more nuanced discussion about social media – one that includes both opportunities and risks. Young people’s lives largely take place online, and shared responsibility is needed to increase knowledge about digital risks, algorithms, AI, and source criticism.
They also emphasised the need for national and international cooperation against hate and threats, simpler reporting mechanisms, and clearer consequences for illegal online behaviour.
With greater accountability from online platforms and adults, as well as increased understanding of social media algorithms and structures, young people can continue to participate in public discussion online.
Find more information about the work of the Swedish 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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The discussion was held on 3 February 2026 as part of safer internet month, and focused on two themes: how digital media affects democratic dialogue, and how online hate and threats limit young people’s engagement. The aim was for young people to gather around, discuss and find solutions.
“The internet is not a separate part of young people’s lives. It is a central arena for identity, engagement, and power.”
With those words, Devansh Kashyap from the National Union of Students in Sweden (Elevernas Riksförbund) opened the roundtable discussion that brought together the Swedish Safer Internet Centre’s youth panel and additional representatives from youth organisations.
Young participants’ perspective on life online
The youth representatives described a digital everyday life where democratic challenges, social media functions, and increasing hate and threats are interconnected.
Algorithms and filtering push aside different perspectives, a problem reinforced by AI-generated content and disinformation. This can make it difficult to determine what is actually true, the participants expressed.
Hate and threats are common on social media and cause many young people to refrain from participating in public conversations. Vague reporting functions and a high tolerance for abusive behaviour online contribute to the normalisation of hate and threats.
Young people’s solutions for safer online environments
The participants called for a more nuanced discussion about social media – one that includes both opportunities and risks. Young people’s lives largely take place online, and shared responsibility is needed to increase knowledge about digital risks, algorithms, AI, and source criticism.
They also emphasised the need for national and international cooperation against hate and threats, simpler reporting mechanisms, and clearer consequences for illegal online behaviour.
With greater accountability from online platforms and adults, as well as increased understanding of social media algorithms and structures, young people can continue to participate in public discussion online.
Find more information about the work of the Swedish Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.
- artificial intelligence (AI) youth panel youth empowerment
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