Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Coherence of the EU legal framework

The Union has already established a robust legal framework through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). Together, these instruments address privacy, harmful content, online advertising, and algorithmic accountability. However, fragmentation and uneven enforcement create persistent gaps. Influencers and professional content creators often operate at a scale comparable to broadcasters but fall into regulatory grey zones. The Rapporteur stresses thus the need to ensure full coherence across instruments, particularly with the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, so that children enjoy equal protection regardless of the platform or service.

The next AVMSD revision: a crucial opportunity

The upcoming revision of the AVMSD provides a timely opportunity to modernise the Union’s audiovisual legal framework. The Rapporteur stresses the need to assess whether its scope should be extended to reflect the realities of today’s media ecosystem, in which influencers and content creators act as de facto media service providers. Applying core provisions, such as advertising transparency and protection of minors to major video-sharing platforms (VSPs) and influencer-driven content would close current loopholes and align responsibilities more closely with those of traditional broadcasters. This would help ensure a consistent level of protection for children across audiovisual environments.

Artificial intelligence and algorithmic risks

AI-driven services are increasingly shaping children’s experiences online: from personalised recommendation engines to conversational chatbots and automated moderation. These technologies hold potential but also present new risks of bias, manipulation, and privacy intrusion. Without strong safeguards, algorithmic systems may reinforce harmful stereotypes, amplify polarisation, or expose children to manipulative content. The Rapporteur therefore stresses the importance of full enforcement of the AI Act, particularly the obligations on transparency, risk assessment, and safeguards for children’s rights. Algorithmic accountability is not simply a technical matter, it is a democratic imperative to ensure that young people understand, in age-appropriate ways, how their online environment is shaped.

Mental health, harmful content, and age assurance

Mental health concerns are at the core of the debate. Excessive and compulsive social media use has been associated with anxiety, depression, and lower well-being, while constant exposure to addictive design features undermines healthy development. To address these risks, the Rapporteur calls for a mix of preventive and regulatory measures: privacy-respecting age verification system, interoperable with the European Digital Identity Wallet, effective parental controls, and default safety by design. Platforms must also take greater responsibility in moderating harmful or manipulative content and in adapting algorithms to reduce exposure to addictive features.

Cyberbullying, influencers and gender-based harassment

Cyberbullying remains one of the most widespread online harms faced by children and adolescents. Preventive action must combine awareness programmes in schools, teacher training, accessible reporting mechanisms, and peer support structures. Influencers also play a major role in shaping the consumption habits and values of young people. Clearer rules on sponsorship disclosures, transparency obligations, and ethical standards, particularly in relation to child influencers, are necessary to avoid misleading marketing and protect minors from covert advertising.

The Rapporteur further emphasises the gendered nature of online harms. Evidence shows that girls and young women are disproportionately targeted with harassment, misogynistic content, and body image pressures. Gender-sensitive safeguards must therefore form part of the Union’s digital protection framework, ensuring that online spaces are inclusive and empowering for all young users.

Digital literacy, civic participation, and inclusion

Regulation alone is not sufficient. Empowering children through digital and media literacy is essential to equip them with the critical skills needed to navigate social media safely and intentionally. Schools, youth organisations, and civil society must be supported in providing young people with the tools to understand algorithms, resist manipulation, and manage their digital presence responsibly.

At the same time, it is vital to recognise that social media also fosters civic participation and has enabled young people across Europe to mobilise around causes from climate change to gender equality. Ensuring safe and inclusive online spaces will strengthen not only child protection but also youth engagement in European democracy. This also requires attention to inclusion: minority and marginalised communities must be fairly represented, and their identities respected in digital spaces, to foster a sense of belonging.

Monitoring and enforcement

Finally, effective policies require strong enforcement and continuous monitoring. Initiatives such as the BIK+ strategy are valuable, but their success depends on rigorous evaluation and adaptation to new risks, such as algorithmic harms or manipulative persuasive design. The Rapporteur calls on the Commission to assess the effectiveness of current initiatives and to ensure that Union action keeps pace with the rapidly evolving digital environment.

Social media and the current online environment offer opportunities for learning, creativity, and civic participation, but also exposes children to serious risks of harm, manipulation, and exclusion. The Rapporteur therefore calls for a comprehensive European strategy combining safety-by-design, algorithmic transparency, privacy-first age assurance, education and empowerment, and robust enforcement. By closing regulatory gaps and strengthening accountability, the Union can ensure that children and young people grow up in a digital environment that protects their dignity, supports their well-being, and enables them to thrive as active citizens of tomorrow.