Child Safety in Digital Environments

13.10.2026

This conference shall bring together experts from government, academia, industry and civil society to discuss how to better protect children using social media.

The forum shall focus on the need to strengthen the skills of young users to engage with social media in a safe environment. The dialogue will address the current debate on age limitations for the use of social media, the respective responsibilities of parents, schools, social media platforms and regulators of competitive markets. This discussion has prompted legislative proposals in several EU Member States including Austria. Participants will examine current risks and discuss practical legal solutions from a comparative perspective. Expected outcomes include a shared understanding of key risks, policy options such as age assurance, clear recommendations for regulators and industry, and the establishment of a network for future cooperation.

13th October 2026, 13:00 – 19:00 Austrian Academy of Sciences, Festive Hall & Aula, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna

PROGRAMM