Your mental health matters
Our life online brings many opportunities to connect, learn and engage with others. But heavy use of social media and too much unintentional screen time can harm mental and physical health.
Social media algorithms are designed to maximise user engagement. Design features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications encourage users to spend more time on the platform. This may narrow people’s view of the world, heighten stress and anxiety, and deepen social polarisation.
EU laws and initiatives help reduce the negative aspects of our online lives. This way you can continue to reap the benefits of new digital technologies, games and media, while preserving your mental wellbeing.
📖 Information on algorithms
Platforms need to provide clear, easy-to-understand explanations detailing exactly why their algorithms suggest certain information to you.
⚠️ Reporting illegal content
You have the right to flag illegal and harmful content on the platforms you are using.
∞ Addressing addictive design
You can opt for non-personalised feeds on large platforms to reduce receiving potentially ‘addictive’ content.
👁️ Fighting cyberbullying
In the EU, children are protected from cyberbullying with the roll-out of an EU-wide app where victims of online bullying can easily get help. It has also set up Safer Internet Centres across Europe which help with keeping kids safe online.
📲 Improving your digital skills
Support your wellbeing by developing your digital skills, so that you are able to identify:
- false or misleading information
- manage online risks
- and use digital technologies wisely
👧 Safeguarding children and young people
Platforms must safeguard children and young people using their services, by reducing the risks of exposure to content like gambling or pornography.
🛑 Banning targeted ads for children
EU laws ensure a complete ban on targeted advertisements to children.
🪪 Putting you in control of your personal data
EU data protection rules allow you to be in control of how your personal data is used. You can request access to the personal data a company or organisation has about you; ask them to correct it and if necessary, delete it (“right to be forgotten”).
🚫 Protection from cyber violence
EU rules help protect us from all forms of cyber violence, from online harassment and stalking to unwanted sharing of pictures. Legally, EU countries must punish offences like cyberflashing and image-based sexual abuse and large digital platforms must quickly remove illegal, non-consensual images or manipulated material.
This page was last updated on 16 July 2026