A Digital Decade for children and youth: the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+)

As the digital component of the children’s rights strategy, the European Commission adopted the updated version of the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy in May 2022. This strategy embodies the digital approach that ‘children and young people should be protected and empowered online’. It considers the Council Conclusions on Media Literacy, the European Parliament Resolution on Children’s Rights and the Council Recommendation to create a European Children’s Guarantee.

This revised strategy builds on the original European Better Internet for Kids (BIK) strategy published in 2012. It involved extensive consultations with children, as well as targeted consultations with parents, teachers, member states, the ICT and media industry, civil society, academics and international organisations.

The new European strategy for a better internet for kids strives for easily accessible, educational, and age-appropriate online services that are in kids’ best interests. Based on three main pillars, it lays out a vision for a digital decade for kids and teenagers:

• Safe online experiences, safeguarding children from inappropriate and harmful conduct, and promoting children’s wellness in a secure, age-appropriate online environment are all important.
• Digital empowerment, which gives kids the knowledge and abilities they need to make wise decisions and express themselves in a responsible and safe manner online.

• The promotion of innovative and creative safe digital experiences through active involvement, respecting children by allowing them a voice in the digital environment, and increasing child-led activities.

Full text of the new strategy: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2022:212:FIN
Child-friendly version: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/child-friendly-version-european-strategy-better-internet-kids-bik