Recital 63

Recognising that effective protection of minors requires not only regulatory measures but also awareness, education and empowerment, Member States should establish national strategies building on the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions: A digital Decade for children and your: the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) of 11 May 2022 and its network of Safer Internet Centres with awareness activities, helplines supporting children, guardians and educators and hotlines to report suspected illegal content. Notably, Member States should promote the development of minors’ digital literacy skills so that, by the time they reach the minimum age, they are able to understand the risks of the online environment covered by this Regulation, to use digital services and systems safely and critically, and to make informed use of the protections, settings and tools that providers are required to make available. Minors, and their guardians, should have easy, free and confidential access at national level to channels through which minors can seek assistance in relation to the harms addressed by this Regulation, including unwanted contact and cyberbullying in line with the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Action plan against cyberbullying “Safer online, stronger together” of 10 February 2026. Those channels should complement the reporting and support tools provided pursuant to this Regulation, be capable of providing rapid assistance, and direct minors to further sources of support available at national level. It should be possible to support these activities, including those carried out by the Safer Internet Centres, by Union funding made available under the relevant Union programmes and instruments established under the multiannual financial framework, such as the National and Regional Partnership Plans. In order to support effective implementation, Member States should communicate the measures taken to the Commission, and the Commission should facilitate the exchange of best practices between Member States.