Cyberbullying – A key priority for a Safer Environment for children and young people online

Young people nowadays are often described as digital natives — born and raised as netizens and empowered by the vast opportunities that digital technology and social media offer. Alongside these opportunities, however, comes a heightened risk of cyberbullying, which continues to rise among young people and remains a top concern in the European Commission’s ongoing efforts to create a safer digital environment. In this respect, the European Commission has launched a new Action plan against cyberbullying – Protecting Children Online.

Cyberbullying, by definition, can be understood as ‘the use of technology to bully (harass, threaten, embarrass, or target) another person’. It commonly occurs through written or verbal means such as phone calls, text messages, emails, chats, blogs, or posts on social media, as well as through visual content, including the sharing of compromising or humiliating photos or videos (European Commission, 2024). 

Latest data show that ‘1 in 6 adolescents have experienced cyberbullying, while 1 in 8 admit to having participated in it’, and 14% of all calls to the Helplines concern cyberbullying (European Commission, 2026).

Addressing and preventing cyberbullying requires concrete coordinated actions. This year we celebrated Safer Internet Day (SID) on 10 February 2026 with a close focus on Cyberbullying. Since 2004, SID has been part of the Better Internet for Kids initiative and serves as a firm reminder of the constant urge to protect and promote digital safety and wellbeing among the young generation.

As the major force in this combat, Safer Internet Centres (SICs) across Europe have developed a wide range of resources to raise the awareness of children, parents, teachers and experts on how to prevent and respond to cyberbullying. 

Learn more about several HaDEA-managed Safer Internet projects and the resources developed on this topic:

• The Portuguese Safer Internet Centre developed a series of videos and posters for the awareness campaign: Act. Speak. Change. Your voice against bullying – awareness campaign featuring actionable slogans: "Act When You See", "Speak When You Suffer", and "Combat Bullying";
• The Estonian Safer Internet Centre developed video recommendations on what to do in case of cyberbullying: Troll;
• The Lithuanian Safer Internet Centre delivered a webinar Cyberbullying: what adults need to know  and shared insights about how children communicated online, and what support needed from adults in order to accompany minors in the digital world.

Background information

The Digital Europe Programme (DEP) aims to build the strategic digital capacities of the EU and to facilitate the wide deployment of digital technologies. With an overall budget of €8.1 billion, out of which €0.8 billion is managed by HaDEA, the programme will support investments in the following sectors:

• High Performance Computing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity and Trust
• Advanced digital skills
• Best use of Digital Capacities and Interoperability
• Semiconductors

HaDEA manages actions under Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Digital Skills and Best use of Digital Capacities and Interoperability.

The network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs), co-funded under the Digital Europe Programme, aims to raise awareness about online safety issues and to mitigate the risks children and young people are exposed to. More information about Safer Internet Centres - the "Safer Internet" factsheet.

Useful Resources:

European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+)

EU Action plan against cyberbullying – Protecting children online

Better Internet for Kids portal

Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe

References:

European Commission (2026) Action plan against cyberbullying – Protecting children online. Shaping Europe’s Digital Future, accessed 17 February 2026, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/cyberbullying.

European Commission. (2024). Wellbeing and mental health at school: Guidelines for education policymakers. Publications Office of the European Union, accessed 17 February 2026,  https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/wellbeing_and_mental_health_at_school.pdf