Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Youth, outlined concrete steps to bolster the safety and well-being of young people online during his speech at the Meta European Youth Summit. Highlighting the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the widespread internet use among youth—96% of young people access the internet daily—Micallef emphasized the dual nature of digital growth, offering both opportunities and risks.
Protecting the digital youth Micallef pointed to the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which came into force a year ago, as a landmark legislative framework aiming to raise standards for online child safety. Notably, he announced plans for a European approach to age verification through a privacy-preserving app, supplementing the upcoming EU Digital Wallet. The speech detailed upcoming guidelines for platforms to tackle cyberbullying and the adverse mental health effects of poorly designed algorithms.
Participation and empowering youth voices The commissioner stressed youth engagement in digital participation, noting the shift in news consumption towards social media among young Europeans. He praised initiatives like the pan-European Safer Internet Centres and digital literacy measures via Erasmus+, underlining the importance of including youth perspectives in policy making.
Calling for concrete action against cyberbullying Micallef announced an EU Action Plan against Cyberbullying structured around defining and understanding cyberbullying, sharing Member States’ good practices, detecting incidents collaboratively with industry, and enabling youth reporting and peer support. Approximately one in six young people experience cyberbullying, positioning this as a major policy concern.
EU-wide social media impact inquiry Addressing mental health risks, including online addiction and feelings of exclusion reported by over 40% of young people, Micallef proposed launching a comprehensive EU-wide inquiry into social media's impact on youth well-being.
- Online platforms face increased regulatory obligations, including systemic risk assessments and compliance with guidelines, possibly raising operational challenges but also providing clearer frameworks. - National authorities will be involved in harmonizing age verification and sharing effective practices against cyberbullying. - Youth organizations and educational institutions benefit from reinforced support and tools to empower young people and combat online harms. - Young people themselves gain enhanced protections, participation rights, and platforms for voicing concerns, though increased monitoring might affect perceptions of privacy.
Micallef’s speech signals a strengthening of EU regulatory oversight on digital platforms concerning youth online safety, with a tilt towards collaborative enforcement and support. It reflects a moderate increase in EU powers regarding digital youth protection, balancing regulatory requirements with youth empowerment initiatives. The proposals envisage new institutional efforts like an EU-wide inquiry and a pan-EU cyberbullying action plan with specific pillars but lack detailed numerical targets or budget allocations. This initiative seeks to reconcile youth inclusion with tighter supervision of digital environments to address emerging mental health and safety challenges.
← Atlas › News › Digital & Communication