SIF 2025 is co-created by youth: what does that entail?

The Safer Internet Forum (SIF) is youth co-created, which means that young people are actively involved in shaping the event at every stage. But what does that really entail? 

At SIF 2025, it involves helping to design the programme, leading sessions, and guiding discussions to make sure the Forum reflects the views and priorities of young people across Europe.

Young people at the centre of SIF 2025

In the months leading up to this year’s Forum, young people have been taking a leading role to ensure that SIF 2025 truly represents today’s digitally connected youth.

Two key youth groups, the Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Youth Panel and the Safer Internet Forum Youth Advisory Group  (SIF YAG), have been working closely with the European Commission and the BIK Coordination Team to shape the Forum.

The BIK Youth Panel 2025 includes 33 young people aged 13 to 18 from 25 European countries, including five youth members of the EU’s Children's Participation Platform. Since September, they have been meeting regularly online to explore topics such as age-appropriate online experiences, social media age restrictions, and responsible gaming. They have shared ideas, developed materials, and prepared presentations to contribute directly to discussions at the Forum in Brussels.

The SIF Youth Advisory Group (SIF YAG) 2025, made up of six young people, has been helping to shape the programme, select speakers, and design sessions. In the days before the Forum, they will also lead sessions, chair discussions, and work alongside policymakers and industry experts to make sure the youth perspective is fully represented.

Spotlight on youth-led sessions

At SIF 2025, young people will play a central role in several sessions. The roundtable on potential age restrictions for social media will allow BIK Youth Panel members to present priorities from children and parents. In parallel sessions on age-appropriate online experiences, they will discuss how social media can be safer, more inclusive, and child-centred. In the responsible gaming session, young people will share their experiences alongside parents, child safety experts, and industry representatives on age ratings and parental control tools. These youth-led activities ensure that discussions are grounded in real experiences and address the needs of children and young people today.

By involving young people directly in the planning and delivery of SIF 2025, the Forum is helping to create a safer, more informed, and inclusive online environment for children, young people, and all digital users.

Discover more about BIK Youth activities

To stay updated on youth activities related to the Better Internet for Kids agenda across Europe, visit the BIK Youth section on the BIK platform. Learn more about the Safer Internet Forum 2025 and secure your online spot now!

The image above shows youth participants from Safer Internet Forum 2024.