The European Commission on Tuesday announced a new action plan to protect children and young people from the risks of digitalisation, with a strong focus on Cyberbullying. The move was revealed to coincide with Safer Internet Day and responds to growing concerns about online harm.

The Commission reported that cyberbullying is increasing across Europe. According to its data, one in six children aged 11 to 15 has experienced cyberbullying. Meanwhile, one in eight admitted to taking part in such behaviour online. As a result, the Commission stressed the urgency of coordinated action.

As part of the plan, the Commission revealed the development of a unified EU-wide digital application. The app will allow child and adolescent victims of cyberbullying to easily access help and report incidents. It will also enable secure storage of evidence related to bullying cases.

Key features of the proposed app include:

• Direct reporting to national cyberbullying helplines
• Access to psychological support and guidance
• Secure digital evidence storage for investigations

According to the Commission, the application is expected to strengthen the protection of minors, improve accountability for perpetrators, and provide victims with practical digital tools. Furthermore, a prototype will be developed at the EU level, while member states will be responsible for adapting, translating, and linking it to national services.

In addition, the action plan aims to improve coordination among EU member states. Governments are encouraged to develop national action plans and adopt a shared definition of cyberbullying. This step is expected to support better data collection, comparison, and review of existing European initiatives.

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