ACTIVITIES :: Safer Internet Programme :: Policy

Policy: Making a Better Internet for Children

Today, children in Europe start using the Internet on average when they are 7 years old. One in three go online via mobile phones, game consoles or other mobile devices. At the same time, many young children say there are not enough good things for kids their age to do online. Children need quality content online to stimulate their imagination and help them learn. They need the skills and tools for using the Internet safely and responsibly.

The European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children

On 02 May 2012 the Commission adopted the Communication for a "Strategy for a Better Internet for Children".

You can read it in your own language

Read the Commission press release

Read the Citizens' summary in your own language

The Commission has set out a plan to give children the digital skills and tools they need fully and safely to benefit from the digital world. It also aims to unlock the potential of the market for interactive, creative and educational content online. The strategy brings together the European Commission and Member States with mobile phone operators, handset manufacturers and providers of social networking services to deliver concrete solutions for a better internet for children. The strategy proposes a series of actions grouped around four main goals:

- To stimulate the production of creative and educational online content for children and develop platforms which give access to age-appropriate content
- To scale up awareness raising and teaching of online safety in all EU schools to develop children's digital and media literacy and self-responsibility online
- Creating a safe environment for children where parents and children are given the tools necessary for ensuring their protection online – such as easy-to-use mechanisms to report harmful content and conduct online, transparent default age-appropriate privacy settings or user-friendly parental controls;
- Combating child sexual abuse material online by promoting research into, and use of innovative technical solutions by police investigations.

Safer Internet Programme: promoting safer use and fighting illegal online content

Since 1999, the Commission has developed various strategies to make the Internet safer through the Safer Internet Programme. Each one of these strategies covers several years and funds activities at national and European levels. The main objectives are:

to promote the safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, particularly for children and young people;
to educate users, particularly children, parents, carers, teachers and educators in this regard;
to fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online.

The current Safer Internet Programme covers the period 2009-2013.

Consulting the public: fresh views to explore new challenges and risks

Mobile and online technologies are constantly evolving and offering new possibilities to their young users. But these possibilities also involve brand new challenges. In order to evaluate the impact of these changes, the Commission consults the public to collect fresh views from all relevant stakeholders.

International co-operation to tackle risks that don't stop at borders

Acting at European level only is not enough. Issues relating to child protection online are global and complex: anyone, living anywhere in the world, can generate content for the rest of us to see and access, even from the other side of the globe. Therefore, international co-operation is needed to ensure the safety of our children.

Related activities

Activities initiated by other services of the European Union: the Safer Internet Programme runs alongside other European initiatives that bring together stakeholders to exchange information and best practices, and take positive action for children and young people.

Related legislation

European legislation and standards: European-wide standards have been established to protect minors from risks that exist online or in the audiovisual media.