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Thematic dialogue on social media and children’s mental health, 4 June 2026 (Strasbourg and online)

Social media, which is becoming an increasingly integral part of children’s daily lives, is changing the way they communicate, learn, and interact. These platforms offer children real opportunities to express themselves, participate, and stay informed. But social media is a cause for concern due to the risks it poses to children and its potential effects on their well-being and mental health.

On 4 June 2026, the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF), in co-operation with the Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) held a thematic dialogue to examine the links between exposure to social media, children’s well-being and mental health, as well as policy responses aimed at mitigating risks to children. At a time when many countries are reviewing their legislation on children’s access to social media, the discussions aimed to define how to balance the protection of children with respect for their rights and their participation.

This event was organised by the under the auspices of the Presidency of Monaco of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and it contributes to the New Democratic Pact for Europe.

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