Commission action plan brings cyberbullying to very forefront of EU strategic agenda

Cyberbullying remains high on the EU agenda of priorities still to address - and in recent years, has grown to encompass even larger margins than before.

Two in five children have witnessed cyberbullying, and 25% have been victims themselves according to a 2025 report on the findings from a consultation with children on cyberbullying in the context of the EU Children's Participation Platform by ICF, SOS Children's Villages, and Save the Children. Girls in particular, reported higher instances of both witnessing and being victims of cyberbullying. Over 9 in 10 Europeans consulted in a recent Eurobarometer survey, believed urgent action is needed to protect children from harmful online influences and abuse. 

Social media (used by 80% of young people use social media daily) is a primary channel through which children and adolescents are exposed to cyberbullying, and there is mounting evidence that their exposure to inappropriate online content is having lasting, damaging effects. The EU already has a comprehensive legal and policy framework to protect and empower children online (the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategic initiative, the network of Safer Internet Centres, etc). Against this backdrop and aiming to complement existing initiatives, the European Commission announced and launched an Action Plan against Cyberbullying back in February 2026. 

Why is Europe in need of an Action Plan on Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying can be seen as inherently "private" - physical access and contact are no longer required for bullying to take place. It can occur at anytime, leading to victims often feeling as if they are in an endless loop of non-stop communication with the bully. Almost all (95%) victims of cyberbullying also experience physical, verbal or social bullying in real-life contexts. 

Cyberbullying is on the rise across all EU countries. According tothe Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), between 2017 and 2018, and 2021 and 2022, cyberbullying increased in all 29 EU countries and regions covered by the 2025 report "How's Life for Children in the Digital Age?". In some countries, notably Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands, this figure rose by more than 5%. The OECD average itself went up too - from 12.1 per cent to 15.5 per cent.

Differences from one EU Member State to the next are also significant. In the 2021–22 period, the cyberbullying rate, showing the share of children who were bullied online, ranged from 7.5 per cent in Spain to 27.1 per cent in Lithuania. Apart from Lithuania, other countries with high cyberbullying rates included  Latvia, Poland, England, Hungary, Estonia, Ireland, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Wales, Finland, and Denmark. Portugal, Greece and France are also among the countries with the lowest cyberbullying rates. In Germany and Italy, cyberbullying was also below the European average (see OECD's 2025 report, and also Euronews, 2025: Cyberbullying among children rises in all European countries: Which are suffering the most?). In all countries, children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely than others to report having been victims. 

Main details of the action plan 

The action plan focuses on 3 pillars to boost EU-level response to cyberbullying:

1. A coordinated approach on EU-level with regards to protection: the Commission will continue to enforce existing laws and expand the focus on cyberbullying. EU Member States are invited to lead in the development of national policies to address cyberbullying based on the shared definition on EU level.
2. Prevention and awareness: the action plan aims to promote healthy, responsible digital habits from an early age to prevent and raise awareness of cyberbullying. The Commission will provide various EU-level tools, created with input from children, parents, educators, mental health experts, member states, and organisations like Safer Internet Centres. 
   1. The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) has a specific JRC Science for Digital Wellbeing information centre, with information and figures on cyberbullying. 
   2. The JRC also hosts the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT), which supports the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) through technical and scientific expertise.
3. Reporting and support: the action plan aims to ensure that everyone, especially victims, bystanders, parents and carers, have clear, trusted, and accessible ways to report abuse and obtain comprehensive help. The Commission will support the implementation of an online safety app across all member states, enabling children and young people to easily report cyberbullying, store and submit evidence, and receive tailored assistance.

The Action Plan is built around: the rollout of an EU-wide app where victims of online bullying can easily get help, the coordination of national approaches to tackle harmful behaviour online, and the prevention of cyberbullying by encouraging better and safer digital practices.

Further reading 

Find more information on the Action plan and next steps on the European Commission's website. Dive into the full text of the Action plan against cyberbullying – protecting children online, and read the press release on the Action Plan's launch. 

The website of BIK provides a range of resources for children, youngsters, teachers and parents, featuring a knowledge hub with the latest research and information in the area.