The second annual report on systemic risks and mitigation measures under the Digital Services Act (DSA) highlighted risks to children and young people online and how the DSA is building an effective long-term approach to combatting such risks.

The report, published by the Board for Digital Services and developed in cooperation with the European Commission, provides an overview of systemic risks present on very large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs).

These risks include the spread of illegal content, and the impact of design-related choices, which can contribute to or exacerbate risks to child safety online. For instance, interface features and recommender systems can foster addiction-like behaviour on social media, exposure to harmful content, such as dangerous viral challenges or adult content, and harmful behaviour like cyberbullying and grooming.

The report also details risk mitigation measures used by VLOPs and VLOSEs to combat these risks, ranging from targeted protection measures to user empowerment tools. This reaffirms the DSA's role as a world-leading transparency tool on the ways in which online platforms function and shape our societies.

As the Commission continues to monitor the implementation of the DSA, this report provides critical insights into evolving online risks, supporting civil society, regulators, and platforms in their efforts to create a safer, more accountable digital environment in the EU.

Find more information in the report.

Read more about the Digital Services Act (DSA).

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