Safer platforms and digital literacy, not plain bans, are key to protecting children online

Podgorica, 12 February 2026 

As more countries introduce age restrictions for social media, UNICEF is calling on governments and technology companies to move beyond plain bans and ensure real accountability for children’s safety online.

“Age limits do play a role, but they cannot be the main solution,” said Michele Servadei, UNICEF Representative in Montenegro.

“Children need three things: platforms that are safe by design; clear rules that hold social media and IT companies accountable; and systems that protect their rights, privacy and wellbeing.”

Across Europe and beyond, policymakers are increasingly debating how to respond to online harms such as cyberbullying, grooming, exposure to unwanted sexual and/or harmful content, exploitation and manipulative design practices. UNICEF warns that restrictions alone, without stronger regulation and safer platforms design, risk leaving children exposed, while reducing pressure on companies to improve their services.

In Montenegro, recent data also highlight how much pressure is currently placed on families. According to Ipsos research (2024), only around half of parents say they actively limit children’s screen time, check the content they follow online, and regularly discuss online content with their children – pointing to the need for stronger systemic solutions and greater support for parents and caregivers.

“If we want children to be safer online, we need to act on several fronts at once,” Servadei added.

“That means stronger digital skills and media literacy in schools, better support for parents – including through tools such as the UNICEF-supported Bebbo parenting app – and equipping teachers with the resources to guide students, including via the Ministry of Education’s Digital School Platform, which provides a safe digital environment and resources for teachers, parents and students. These are practical steps Montenegro can take, but they require sustained investment and commitment.”

UNICEF stresses that protecting children online requires shared responsibility:

• Governments should adopt and enforce regulations that compel platforms to prioritize child safety and transparency.
• Public institutions should ensure children have clear, accessible channels to seek help, report harmful content and access support when something goes wrong online.
• Technology companies need to redesign platforms so that child safety, privacy and wellbeing are central to product design.
• Parents, educators and communities should be supported with tools and knowledge to help children build digital skills gradually and safely. Scaling up existing parenting programmes and the Digital School Platform will be key.
• Children and young people need to be meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their digital lives.

Digital spaces can be especially important for children who face barriers offline, including children with disabilities, children from minority communities, and children who experience isolation or exclusion. Safe online environments can support communication, participation and access to information for these groups.

“If policies are meant to protect children, then children’s experiences need to be part of how those policies are shaped,” said Ognjen Knežević, UNICEF Montenegro Young Reporter.

On Safer Internet Day, UNICEF calls for policies that strengthen accountability of technology companies, promote safer digital environments by design, and provide meaningful support to children, families and communities to navigate the digital world safely.