Have your say on the #DigitalDecade4YOUth consultation and help us make the next 10 years the Digital Decade of Europe!
In March 2021, the European Commission presented its high-level vision for the digital transformation of European economy and society in the Digital Decade Communication. The Digital Decade is the strategic vision towards achieving a more prosperous and sustainable digital future in Europe – and one that puts people first. The communication is a blueprint to improve EU response across cardinal areas, such as skills, infrastructure, and digitalisation of the public and private sphere, and sets ambitious targets for European citizens and businesses: to equip 80% of EU citizens with at least basic digital skills, and reach the milestone of 20 million specialists in the ICT sector by the year 2030.
At the heart of this work is a desire to ensure that the digital world is fit for the future and can allow everyone to benefit from all the opportunities it can offer. On 15 September 2021, President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen delivered her ‘State of the EU’ address to the European Parliament, singling out digital as the ‘make-or-break’ issue and raising awareness of the need to step up European support for children and young people: ‘Because Europe needs all of its youth’ and because this ‘is our most educated, talented and motivated generation’.
Making Europe’s Digital Decade fit for children and young people
This is where the #DigitalDecade4YOUth consultation comes in. As part of wider consultation activities, children, youth, parents and carers, teachers and educators, and other stakeholders from across the European Union are being consulted on the priorities they see to promote, protect, respect and fulfil the rights of children and young people in a digital world. These important insights will also be used to inform a new Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Strategy, to be adopted in 2022.
Consultation work to date has already gained insights from some 750 children and young people through 70 focus groups. It is now expanded, looking for input from the stakeholders who care for and educate Europe’s children and young people and are dedicated to ensuring that education they get is fit for the digital age. Alongside the responses already received from children and young people, your views are essential in shaping the ongoing work on digital principles within the EU, and for helping to give Europe’s children and young people the best possible online experiences.
“What can be done to ensure that the digital world is fit for the future? And how can we ensure that we promote, protect, respect and fulfil the rights of all children and young people when they go online?”
The survey puts forward a series of questions that allow to compare different perspectives of all participants in this context. To answer the survey, you will need to draw on your experience to reflect on the opportunities and challenges young people gain from going online and consider the challenges and risks they may face on a day-to-day basis. You can share your views on who you think is (or should be) responsible for making sure the experience of young people online is indeed a positive one – and what policymakers need to do over the next decade to bring sustainable and long-term benefits for all.
Share your views by 11 October 2021!
