The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence to support the development of the EU Action Plan against cyberbullying, expected for early 2026.
Around 1 in 6 adolescents report being victims of cyberbullying, while 1 in 8 admit to perpetrating it.
“Bullying does not stop at schools or playgrounds,” said EC vice-president Henna Virkkunen: “Children and youth are increasingly exposed to cyberbullying that can harm their well-being at any time through smartphones and social media. We will tackle this worrying trend as part of our responsibility to make the online world a safer and empowering environment for the youngest of our societies.”
The upcoming plan will focus on the protection of minors, while also considering other elements of cyberbullying, such as the gender dimension and the heightened vulnerability of certain groups of youth up to 29-years-old.
The Action Plan on cyberbullying is complementary to measures already taken by the Commission to protect and empower minors online, such as the guidelines on the protection of minors under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the enforcement actions under the DSA, as well as the blueprint for an age-verification solution.
The consultation and the call for evidence are open until 29 September 2025. A child-friendly consultation will also be launched under the EU Children’s Participation Platform in September.
