As digital technologies evolve, the risks facing young people online have intensified and shifted. From addictive design features to misleading AI content, minors are increasingly vulnerable to harmful online practices. The urgent challenge for regulators and policymakers is how to respond effectively in an environment where technology is developing more quickly than regulation can ever keep pace with.
That was the key issue under discussion during the event. Croatian MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP) told attendees that online safety for minors is a concern that is high on the agenda for European policymakers.
“While digital technologies bring benefits, they also contribute to significant risks minors face, such as youth mental health challenges, exposure to harmful content, addictive design features, and exploitative online practices,” Sokol said. ‘’The upcoming Parliament’s own initiative report on the protection of minors online stresses the importance of shaping future EU policies to ensure the safety and well-being of minors in the digital sphere.”
The Role of Regulation in Online Safety
At the core of protection will be effective regulation and enforcement – with respect of the subsidiarity principle – to prevent manipulative digital strategies that target minors.
The event heard how such regulation can harness learning from well-established and responsible online operators. EL President Romana Girandon emphasised that national lotteries are “uniquely relevant” to the debate, having long championed responsible practices that protect minors from harm.
“Lotteries have been an integral part of European society for centuries,” she explained to participants. “They were there to raise funds for public good for everyone. They strengthened city walls, repaid city debt, built hospitals.”
Games of chance should be fun, not addictive. Protecting minors and preventing excessive play is something that should be non-negotiable
From their very inception, lotteries have blended player rewards with generating revenue for civic projects. Today, European Lotteries raise €22 billion annually for good causes. Girandon is clear that core societal purpose makes lotteries distinct from emerging online platforms that offer limited protection to minors.
“Without this purpose, any kind of games of chance lose their meaning, becoming at best pointless and at worst harmful,” she said. “Games of chance should be fun, not addictive. Protecting minors and preventing excessive play is something that should be non-negotiable.”
The Impact of Digital Environments on Young Users
The event’s Keynote speaker, Joeri van den Bergh, a future consumer expert highlighted the challenges that younger generations face in the digital world. Often struggling with confidence, e-isolation, and a deep need for connection, Gen Z in particular as a digital native generation turn to community-based games, and brands that align with their values. As companies find opportunities by responding with gamified campaigns, there are also growing challenges and vulnerabilities for younger consumers.
Polish MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP) emphasised that he and other policymakers were firmly committed to providing the regulatory and legislative guardrails that will keep young people safe online.
“As Vice-Chair of the Culture and Education Committee, I assure you that this topic is important to us,” Zdrojewski said. “We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of young people where strict age verification and responsible marketing are key tools to effectively protect minors. I believe our discussions during this event will give us valuable recommendations for the future.”
Those recommendations will be vital if Europe is to effectively address online risks. The rise of online platforms has transformed how young people interact with digital content. While these platforms offer opportunities for education and entertainment, they also expose minors to potential harms, including addictive design features and misleading content.
Ensuring a Safe Digital Future for the Next Generation
The event explored how lessons from the well-established and socially responsible operators such as lotteries can be applied to a new generation of digital products. Lotteries operate within stringent frameworks that mandate robust age verification systems, responsible advertising practices, and proactive monitoring for compliance. Such measures could help inform broader digital protections, ensuring that minors are shielded from exploitative practices across all online platforms. Olli Sarekoski, EL 2nd Vice President and CEO of Veikkaus Oy (Finnish lottery) shared best practices, including responsible gambling tools, strict authentication measures, and AI-driven solutions to mitigate risks. Without proper regulatory measures, society lacks the necessary tools to protect vulnerable individuals from gambling-related harm.
Participants were informed that the Digital Services Act (DSA) has marked a major step forward in ensuring platform accountability. However, experts believe that enforcement must remain robust within a rapidly changing online environment.
Isabelle Perignon, Director, Consumers (JUST.B) European Commission, is one of those responsible for ensuring that current laws and regulations are consistently implemented, particularly in an environment where national governments retain control over gambling regulations. The gambling sector is regulated in strict observance of the subsidiarity principle, where authorities at the national level are still best placed to regulate it. It is agreed however that the safeguarding minors in the digital sphere cannot be the sole responsibility of operators. Policymakers, regulators, and society as a whole must collaborate to establish a comprehensive framework that protects minors online.
“Enforcement remains a key priority, and we will continue to ensure that consumer law is fully implemented,” Perignon explained. “The role of the European Commission is to coordinate these efforts, working across different sectors and authorities. Think of it like a conductor in an orchestra.”
Legislation alone is not going to work. The way that games are designed, especially in the age of AI, offers new opportunities to avoid legislation. We need an all-society approach.
However, Wojciech Talko, official at the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU, cautioned that regulatory and statutory rules, whether at national or European levels, will not be enough to address the breadth of the social challenge faced.
“Legislation alone is not going to work,” Talko said. “You have to start recognising that the way that games are designed, especially in the age of AI, offers new opportunities to avoid legislation. We should take responsibility for what’s happening around us. We need an all-society approach.”
That wider approach needs to recognise the different roles that various stakeholders play in safeguarding minors online. The DSA and the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA) provide a strong starting point for a comprehensive framework that can support a coherent and coordinated approach across European nation-states. However, alongside that framework, parents and wider society also have a critical contribution to make.
“Hearing today’s discussion has made me quite concerned, not only as a policymaker but also as the father of a five-year-old,” MEP Sokol told guests. “We’re seeing a worrying shift where digital interactions are replacing real-life experiences, contributing to a rise in mental health issues among children and teenagers.”
Dr. Eszter Salamon, Director at Parents International emphasised empowerment over restrictions and the role of digital resilience in helping children navigate the online world. This is a joint effort by all sides – parents, policy makers and key stakeholders to keep children safe.
MEP Sokol’s concerns will be shared by parents across the EU. They too have a role to play in protecting their children from harm, but ultimately, safeguarding minors online requires a collective effort.
Closing remarks came from Olli Sarekoski who emphasised that while the environment and technologies are evolving, the natural role of lotteries - to have a positive societal impact-remains unchanged. Operators, regulators, policymakers and key stakeholders must work together to build a digital ecosystem that prioritises safety without stifling innovation. This important and timely event highlighted both the urgency of this issue and the need for decisive action to protect the next generation in an increasingly digital world.
The event was hosted by MEP Fulvio Martusciello (EPP, Italy) and moderated by Philippe Vlaemminck, Partner, Vlaemminck.law
The EL Manifesto for the EU Term (2024- 2029) identifies eight focus points to actively contribute to all relevant debates at EU level. Click here to read the full manifesto
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