The European Commission’s special panel on child safety has delivered its final report, outlining the main challenges children face online and offering recommendations on protecting and empowering young users and on age-appropriate use of social media and other digital services.
What the Commission announced
The Commission said the panel has completed and submitted its final report. The document highlights critical online risks for children and proposes guidance and inspiration aimed at improving protection and empowerment. It places particular emphasis on the age-appropriate use of social media and other digital services.
Why it matters
Children’s online safety is a growing policy priority across the European Union as digital services become more integrated into everyday life. A report from a Commission-appointed special panel provides a consolidated assessment that can inform EU institutions and member states as they consider measures to reduce harm, support safer design of digital platforms, and strengthen digital literacy among young people.
By focusing on both protection and empowerment, the panel signals a dual approach: reducing exposure to harmful content or practices and giving children tools and information to manage their digital experiences. The emphasis on age-appropriate use of social media and digital services reflects ongoing concerns about how platforms adapt content, features and safeguards for different developmental stages.
What happens next
The Commission has received the panel’s final report. The announcement does not specify any immediate legislative proposals, timelines, or concrete steps that will follow publication. Stakeholders and policymakers will need to consult the report directly to assess the recommendations and consider how they might feed into future Commission initiatives, national policies, or industry practices addressing online child safety.
Details such as the report’s specific recommendations, suggested implementation mechanisms, and any planned consultations or impact assessments were not provided in the Commission’s brief statement announcing delivery of the final report.
Source: European Commission press release
