Many kids dream of becoming “influencers” one day. At the same time, cyberbullying among children is becoming ever more prevalent, the class chat may feature nude pictures of classmates generated with the help of AI, and access to age-inappropriate content is becoming the norm. As Silke Müller vividly describes in her stirring book “We are losing our children”, children are exposed to risks and hostility online every day, from classmates and strangers, and often have to deal with lasting consequences.

What protective measures and obligations already exist for online providers, e.g. through the new European Digital Services Act and national regulations? What role do schools, parents and legislators have in dealing with smartphones? And what is already being done to harmonise the opportunities and risks of the digital world?

Programme

Welcome Address

Rainer Steffens

Director of the Representation of the State of

North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union

Video message

Nathanael Liminski

Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and the Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Panel Discussion

Silke Müller

School headmaster of Waldschule Hatten and author of the book “We are losing our children”

Martin Harris Hess

European Commission, Directorate General for Communication Networks, Content and Technologies, Team Leader Protection of Minors under the Digital Services Act

Sabine Verheyen MEP

Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education and Member of the European Parliament’s Children’s Rights Group

Mechthild Appelhoff

State Media Authority North Rhine-Westphalia, Head of Media Orientation

 Moderation

Susanne Metzler

Deputy Director of the Representation of the State of

North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union

Simultaneous interpretation DE – EN will be provided.

After the discussion, we invite you to a reception.