The study, commissioned by the EU Commission, examines how the EU strategy Better Internet for Kids (BIK) is being implemented in the individual Member States and draws up a BIK Policy Map III on this basis.
The European Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK) has five main objectives:
- High-quality online content for children and young people;
- Digital and media literacy in education;
- Raising awareness and increasing personal responsibility;
- Rules and tools for a safe online environment for children;
- Combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
As early as 2015 and 2018, European Schoolnet (EUN) was commissioned by the EU Commission to investigate the implementation of the strategy in the individual Member States. It analysed how the strategy was integrated into the regulatory framework and policies of each EU Member State.
BIK Policy Map IV
The upcoming fourth study, BIK Policy Map IV, will be conducted from April 2021 to April 2023 by EUN, the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) at the Technological University Dublin), Brian O'Neill (Dublin) and the Leibniz Institute for Media Research. It will take up recommendations from the previous
BIK Policy Map III study to broaden the scope of the analysis in order to include follow-up assessments and evaluation of progress and achievements in the implementation of the BIK strategy based on selected case studies. The research will run concurrently with wider consultations being undertaken by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission on the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of children's rights in a digital world. The timing of the research will be designed to enrich the BIK strategy with feedback from the research community and relevant international organisations.
Previous Studies
BIK Policy Maps I and II
First published in 2015, the BIK Policy Map study ("Mapping Safer Internet Policies in the Member States") presented the state of the implementation of BIK, the tools used for it and the actors involved in 26 countries. In 2018, the analysis was conducted again with refined indicators (
final report;
country-specific interactive overviews of results).
BIK Policy Map III
The third survey, BIK Policy Map III, was conducted from April 2019 to March 2021 by EUN, the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) at the Technological University Dublin and the Leibniz Institute for Media Research. The core tasks of the HBI were the further development and optimisation of the BIK Policy Map survey instrument and the analytical data evaluation, for example with regard to factors such as political coordination, policy design and relevant actors.
The final report was presented at the Safer Internet Forum in autumn 2020 and provided an overview of progress in the implementation of the BIC strategy. The study results were used by EU and Member State policy bodies to continue and improve sustainable child and youth protection policies.
