Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, and Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, will jointly host a Youth Policy Dialogue tomorrow in Brussels under the umbrella of the Cyberbullying Campaign organised by the European Commission and European Schoolnet.
Young participants will share their experiences, concerns, and ideas on the protection of minors online and the creation of a safer digital environment and cyberbullying. They will outline the main challenges young people encounter online and talk about possible solutions. The discussion will also explore EU initiatives to address these issues, including the EU Cyberbullying Action Plan, the Digital Services Act, the Better Internet for Kids strategy, and the proposed EU KIDS Act. The Dialogue will explore how young people can feel safer and more confident online, focusing on safeguards, digital literacy, measures to prevent and address cyberbullying, and the skills needed to navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly.
Executive Vice-President Virkkunen said: “Protecting children and young people in the digital world is a shared responsibility. Today’s dialogue is an opportunity to listen to their voices, understand their concerns, and work together to create a safer online environment. The European Commission remains committed to ensuring that our digital spaces are secure, inclusive, and empowering for all young Europeans.”
Commissioner Micallef said: “Being online is part of growing up today. Being bullied should not be. Tomorrow, we will listen directly to young people about what makes them feel unsafe online, what actually helps and what needs to change.”
The session will be livestreamed online.
Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the Commission’s commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029.
