An EU Plan to End Cyberbullying

An EU Plan to End Cyberbullying

On 10 February 2026, the European Commission unveiled its Action Plan Against Cyberbullying, which aims to protect the mental health of children and teens online and in the EU.

The Action Plan defines cyberbullying as ‘behaviour carried out through digital technologies, with the primary intention or effect of repeatedly or continuously humiliating, socially excluding, abusing, harassing or harming in particular children or young people.’. 

Moreover, it underlines how particular groups are at higher risk of cyberbullying, including children with disabilities, who experience higher levels of online victimisation, including sexual and gender-based violence. Some even withdraw from online spaces due to constant abuse.

This Action Plan has 3 Pillars, and within each one, actions are proposed by the European Commission:

• Pillar I: A coordinated EU approach to protection – by reviewing the Digital Services Act’s (DSA)  guidelines on the protection of minors; adopting DSA guidelines on trusted flaggers which will help clarify their role in tackling illegal content, such as illegal cyberbullying; assessing ways to address cyberbullying on video sharing platforms in the ongoing evaluation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and its review; supporting the effective implementation of the AI Act provisions on prohibited AI practices.
• Pillar II: Prevention and awareness – address cyberbullying in the update of the guidelines for teachers and educators on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training; strengthen citizenship education in schools through an EU citizenship competence framework and guidelines; strengthen digital competence, cyberbullying prevention and digital well-being through the 2030 roadmap on the future of digital education and skills; contribute to cyberbullying prevention in the forthcoming EU action plan on the protection of children against crime; expand cyberbullying resources and training for schools and for non-formal and informal education, accessible for persons with disabilities.
• Pillar III: Reporting and comprehensive support – support the roll out across Member States of an accessible online safety app for easy reporting of cyberbullying; address child victims and online victimisation, which may include cyberbullying, in the next EU strategy on victims’ rights.

More information on the Action Plan Against Cyberbullying available here.