The past 12 months have seen heightened concern globally around the potential dangers and risks to children and young people online, including cyberbullying, which remains the most common reason for contacting Insafe helplines.

Campaigns to ban the use of social media and smartphones for younger teens have gained traction, and more legislation and regulations are being enacted. 

For example, an expert panel was convened in France late last year to address rising concerns about excessive screen time and its effects on youth, including mental health and developmental issues, and released a set of recommendations including barring young children from having smartphones and limiting social media use to those 15 and older. In Italy, new guidelines have been issued banning the use of smartphones and tablets in classrooms in kindergartens, primary schools, and lower secondary schools, extending an existing ban on non-academic use of these devices.

Against this background, Safer Internet Forum 2024 will place a particular focus on pillar one of the BIK+ strategy: safe digital experiences and, more specifically, how to protect children and young people against inappropriate content and bullying online.

The Forum aims to take stock of the new DSA rules and their implementation, discuss the risks of exposure to potentially harmful online content and behaviour, including cyberbullying, and explore the tools and strategies currently available or needed to mitigate these risks.