European child online safety faces surge in grooming, cyberbullying; age‑verification and parental action urged

At an April conference in Latvia organized by the Insafe/INHOPE network, representatives from several European safer‑internet centres shared alarming statistics on child exploitation online. A Finnish centre reported that at least 300 million children worldwide are victims of sexual exploitation each year, with 33 % of girls and 8 % of boys experiencing sexual violence, and 61 % of those victims not reporting the abuse. Participants highlighted the potential of age‑verification technology, discussed alongside the Digital Services Act and AI Act, to curb grooming that often moves across multiple platforms within an hour.

The conference also examined how artificial intelligence is already being used to refine manipulation tactics and generate exploitative content. Parallel concerns were raised by Lithuanian NGO "Vaikų linija," which warned that cyber‑bullying is equally pervasive. In 2025 the group received 89 direct reports of electronic bullying, while European surveys indicate that one in six children have faced online harassment. The abuse spreads across social media (TikTok, Instagram), messaging apps (Viber, Telegram), and gaming platforms (Roblox, Minecraft). Experts urged parents to move beyond mere monitoring, becoming partners who recognise signs such as sudden mood changes or reluctance to discuss online activity. Both initiatives call for coordinated policy measures, technological safeguards, and increased adult engagement to protect children in the digital age.