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.
Talking 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.
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 protections
The 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.
👧 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.
⚠️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.
🛡️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.
📢 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.
💡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.
This page was last updated on 17 June 2026