Commission launches action plan to protect young people from cyberbullying

Urgent action is needed to protect children online, particularly from cyberbullying and online harassment. One in six children aged 11 to 15 report that they have been victims of cyberbullying and about one in eight admit they have bullied others online. The Commission has therefore announced a plan against cyberbullying on 10 February, Safer Internet Day.

The new plan is built around the rollout of an EU-wide app where victims of online bullying can easily get help. Through the app, children and teens will be able to

• report incidents to a national helpline
• receive support
• safely store evidence of bullying

In this way, the app will not only help protect minors but also hold bullies accountable and empower victims with a tool to fight back. The Commission will develop a blueprint of the app which EU countries can then adapt, translate and connect to relevant national services.

The plan also aims to improve the coordination of national approaches to tackle cyberbullying. The Commission is asking EU countries to develop national plans and to use a common understanding of cyberbullying to collect and compare data. It will also review existing U initiatives to see how they can be improved.

The final aspect of the plan is prevention. The Commission wants to encourage safer and more responsible digital practices from a young age, and it will explore how existing EU tools and rules can be used to better train teachers and to improve the resources and training for schools.

The Commission will now start working with EU countries, industry, civil society, international organisations and children themselves, to out this plan in action. The goal is to make online spaces safer and protect children’s rights and wellbeing.

For more information

Press release - Commission launches Action Plan Against Cyberbullying to protect young people online

EU action on cyberbullying

Safer Internet Day