Social media and violence: How Europe is trying to protect young people

Sunday, Feb 15, 2026

Gazeta Wyborcza

Cyberbullying and online dangers affect youth globally; solutions require parental involvement, education, and systemic change.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Cyberbullying can have tragic consequences, as illustrated by a 16-year-old girl who died after online harassment escalated from school chats to social media. Data shows global increases in cyberbullying reports for both boys and girls. In Poland, victimization rates were high, though recent data showed slight improvement. Youth groups emphasize that online hate and harassment are major dangers, calling for systems to react quickly to psychological harm. Other threats cited include pornography, fake news, and glorification of self-harm. While some European countries restrict phone use in schools, the effectiveness of such bans is debated by experts who argue they shift responsibility onto teachers or parents without addressing deeper issues. Experts suggest that symbolic bans are insufficient; instead, comprehensive solutions like a unified EU protection system, digital literacy education, and strong parental involvement are necessary. Countries like France have implemented stricter regulations, including laws against misleading influencer marketing and a total ban on smartphones in schools following pilot programs. Greece is developing national strategies to combat internet addiction and is exploring age verification systems. Despite these efforts, technology often outpaces legislation, and experts stress that the most effective protection comes from strong parent-child trust and digital education, as current trends suggest youth mental health may continue to decline due to excessive screen time.

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