How can children be protected from the harmful effects of the digital world?

Digitization influences the neurophysical, psychological, social, cultural and transgenerational development of children and the environment they grow up in.

Roxana Vasile, 25.02.2026, 14:00

Almost 80% of children in Romania browse the internet without any restrictions, according to the results of a sociological research by the ʺSalvaţi Copiii / Save the Childrenʺ organization. Over a third of those aged between 12 and 14 have public profiles on social networks, which facilitates frequent contact with unknown people. Almost half of them have been approached by strangers online, and a third have reported situations of harassment or uncomfortable interactions. Over two-thirds of children have been exposed to traumatic content, about which only a tiny percentage, of 5%, had the courage to ask for the support of an adult. Online advertising of substances prohibited to minors (alcohol, tobacco or medicines) reaches the majority of children, especially adolescents. Also the dangerous so-called challenges are visible to 60% of children and some of them actively participate in such risky actions. Last but not least, 2 out of 10 Romanian children between the ages of 11 and 15 show symptoms of psychological withdrawal when their access to the phone or other digital devices is interrupted.

Given these circumstances, what is to be done? A project submitted by the Liberal MPs proposes that media and digital education become a mandatory subject in middle and high school education. The initiative aims to develop the necessary skills for the responsible use of the online environment. According to MP Ionuţ Stroe, Romania is among the last states in the European Union that have not introduced this subject matter into the school curriculum: “We have seen all kinds of clips edited with artificial intelligence that distort the meaning of many events or realities in which we live, fake news, without any source, that is delivered to them and determines certain behaviors. We have seen certain challenges for children that go viral and unfortunately become a trend for them. We have seen fraud. We have seen fake accounts that try to lure them, steal their personal data or many other things of interest to those who use these technologies for a completely different purpose.ʺ

In parallel with digital education, the European Commission also wants to strengthen the legislation to hold online platform owners accountable. Why the Commission? Because problems related to children’s activity in virtual space are not only reported in Romania, but throughout the European Union. MEPs have already debated a plan of measures adopted by the Brussels Executive. The Vice President of the European Parliament, Nicu Ştefănuţă, advocated that, for example, cyber bullying be considered a crime: ʺAn age limit for social networks is something to consider. The French did it for a reason, because social networks are made with an algorithm that is addictive and then we have to think about what we prohibit at school – and we already prohibit alcohol in school, smoking in school, and so on. Perhaps the phone should not be part of school every day, nor social networks!ʺ

In Bucharest, opinions are still divided on this matter. The “Save the Children” organisation would like to ban access to social networks completely and without exception for children under 13, and give access to children between 13 and 15 only with the explicit consent of their parents. George Roman, program director of the organization tells us more about it: “We need a ban for children under 13, but one that is very well-developed technically, and when we talk about 13-15 years old, not just a simple agreement, but a ‘verified parental agreement’, in the sense that the parent must ensure that there is a parental control solution on the phone that protects the child not only from networks, but in general from many other sites that are not organized as networks, as social media, sites that have abusive materials, that have extreme violence, that invite children to watch adult pornographic materials and even to produce materials in exchange for money. So, we are talking about much more solid protection for those between 13-15 years old, with certain networks being accessible to children, only after the authorities verify that the parents are considering all these aspects of child safety.ʺ

On a political level, the head of the Department for Emergencies, Raed Arafat, is in favour of limiting children and adolescents’ access to social networks. It’s not about censorship, but about protecting their mental health, he says: ʺChildren are under major impact and we must understand that on social media we allow physical violence, on social media children can be under the effect of bullying, psychological aggression, aggression from their colleagues, be stigmatized, be under stress and this is not good at all.ʺ

Childhood and adolescence should not be sacrificed for the profit of digital platforms, says Raed Arafat, who is, however, contradicted by his very boss, the Minister of the Interior, Cătălin Predoiu. In Predoiu’s opinion, completely banning children’s access to social networks will bring frustration and excessive curiosity. In his opinion, the solution can only come from a solid and serious education. Children must be taught to recognize false information, manipulation, hate speech or toxic behaviours in the online environment, says the Minister of the Interior.

Ultimately, regardless of the decisions taken, it is important that the safety of minors online becomes a public policy priority. It is necessary, according to the NGOs, to develop and implement coherent prevention, digital education and intervention measures that respond to current realities. It is equally necessary for social platforms to assume responsibility for the protection of children in the digital environment, by applying safety policies, moderating potentially harmful content and ensuring that reporting mechanisms actually work. (EE)