Protecting children online. Growing up in a digital world Digital technology can help children learn, connect, and explore the world. But if you’re a parent or caregiver, you also need to understand the risks so you can help your child navigate the online world safely. Today’s platforms are highly addictive and designed to keep children engaged for as long as possible. Infinite scrolling, short videos, and highly personalised feeds make it easy to lose track of time. The more time children spend online, the higher the risk they may be exposed to harmful or illegal content and online predators. The EU is working to make the internet safer for children while empowering them to benefit from digital tools and opportunities. Growing up online: Young people share their experiences ☝️🤓Online safety essentials Tips for children and teens never share your personal info with strangers keep your profiles locked and think before you postuse strong and unique passwords immediately block and report anyone who bullies, pressures, or creeps you outTips for parents and caregivers help your child limit screen timecheck that apps and games are age-appropriate for your childensure your child uses child or teen accounts on apps and gaming platformsavoid sharenting: reflect before sharing photos or videos of your children online Safe clicks: A practical guide to online safetyTalking to your kids about avoiding online risks can empower them and help them take full advantage of the digital world. Simple and practical steps can make these conversations easier and more effective for families. Explore the tips How to claim your rights and ask for help How can I protect my child from violent or explicit content online? Practical steps can help reduce your child’s exposure to harmful content, such as using strong privacy settings, choosing age-appropriate platforms, and encouraging safer online experiences. You can find more detailed recommendations in the Commission's guidelines on the protection of minors.How can I report dangerous online behaviour? Expert teams in the network of Safer Internet Centres across Europe can help with whatever you need to talk about, including sextortion, cyberbullying, and violent content. Find out how you can reach them on the Better Internet for Kids website. How can I teach minors to protect their privacy, passwords, and personal data? You can find various educational resources and videos helping you and your child navigate the online world safely on the Better Internet for Kids website.How can I report illegal content online? The EU requires platforms to put in place measures to counter the spreading of illegal goods, services or content online. You can report illegal content via an easy-to-use mechanism directly on the platforms. How the EU protects children online EU rules require online platforms to take extra steps to keep children safe. This means fewer harmful recommendations, better tools to report abuse or unsafe content, and clearer options to control what your child sees online. In 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set up a special panel of experts to help develop a strong and practical European approach to keeping children safe online. Discover the panel's work → Practical tools and protectionsThe EU also supports you with practical tools and protections to help keep your child safe online, protect their privacy, and ensure they have age-appropriate digital experiences. 📱Helping your child build healthy screen habits The healthy screentime campaign supports you in setting routines, reducing excessive screen time, and improving your child’s mental health and wellbeing online. 🪪Ensuring your child uses age-appropriate apps and sites EU countries will soon roll out a new age verification app to confirm age online without sharing unnecessary personal data. This will make it easier to access age-appropriate content and helps prevent children from accessing services that are not suitable for them. EU age verification solution👧 Keeping your child’s personal data safe online You can limit how apps collect and use your child’s data. Online services must clearly explain what data they collect and you can ask for it to be removed. Children must be at least 16 years old (or 13 in some countries) to consent to sharing their personal data.Learn more about the GDPR⚠️Preventing online sexual abuse of children The EU put in place stronger systems to detect, remove, and report child sexual abuse material faster. This helps reduce exposure to harmful content and improves cooperation between platforms and authorities to keep children safer. Protecting children from sexual abuse🛡️Ending cyberbullying Cyberbullying can happen through threatening messages, calls, emails, chats, or by sharing humiliating photos or videos on social media, forums or anywhere online. The EU initiative to end cyberbullying gives you the tools you need to prevent, report, and end it. ▶️Safer videos and streaming services for children Your child is better protected against violence, hate speech, and inappropriate content when they use streaming platforms.Audiovisual Media Services Directive📢 Fair advertising to children Children are particularly vulnerable to problematic marketing practices. Consumer protection rules help reduce hidden advertising, dark patterns, and unfair targeting of children. Your child is protected from misleading ads and manipulative designs that can pressure them into buying or engaging with content, while additional measures prohibit targeted advertising directed at minors.🧠Setting rules on AI EU rules prohibit systems that manipulate or deceive vulnerable people, including children, and regulate labelling deepfakes to prevent deception. AI Act💡Fostering digital literacy and tackling disinformation The EU published practical tips you can use to support children's digital literacy and critical thinking. They help you teach children about cyberbullying, disinformation, AI, deceptive content, and other digital risks. Digital literacy and tackling disinformation guidelines Building a safer internet for our childrenThe Commission continues working on new initiatives to strengthen the safety of online spaces. 🧑🧒🧒Protecting children against addictive online designThis upcoming initiative will tackle dark patterns, misleading marketing by social media influencers, the addictive design of digital products and unfair personalisation practices.Digital Fairness ActPreventing online crime against children This upcoming plan focuses on reducing risks like grooming and exploitation and improving how quickly authorities and platforms respond to threats against children online.Action Plan on the Protection of Children against Crime References and resourcesThe Digital Services ActBetter Internet for Kids portal European strategy for a better internet for kids Guidelines on the protection of minors Healthy screentime campaignDigital Services Act for YOUth toolkit Learning Corner This page was last updated on 17 June 2026
Digital technology can help children learn, connect, and explore the world. But if you’re a parent or caregiver, you also need to understand the risks so you can help your child navigate the online world safely. Today’s platforms are highly addictive and designed to keep children engaged for as long as possible. Infinite scrolling, short videos, and highly personalised feeds make it easy to lose track of time. The more time children spend online, the higher the risk they may be exposed to harmful or illegal content and online predators. The EU is working to make the internet safer for children while empowering them to benefit from digital tools and opportunities. Growing up online: Young people share their experiences
Safe clicks: A practical guide to online safetyTalking to your kids about avoiding online risks can empower them and help them take full advantage of the digital world. Simple and practical steps can make these conversations easier and more effective for families. Explore the tips
🧑🧒🧒Protecting children against addictive online designThis upcoming initiative will tackle dark patterns, misleading marketing by social media influencers, the addictive design of digital products and unfair personalisation practices.Digital Fairness Act
Preventing online crime against children This upcoming plan focuses on reducing risks like grooming and exploitation and improving how quickly authorities and platforms respond to threats against children online.Action Plan on the Protection of Children against Crime
