Child Safety Online: New Initiatives in Ukraine
According to a study by Google (February 2025), Ukrainian children are starting to engage with the internet as early as five years old, spending at least one hour online each day. For teenagers, this figure is even higher—79% of them are online for more than three hours daily. This widespread presence of children in the digital realm necessitates increased attention to their safety.
To combat cyberbullying, fraud, and unwanted content, Ukraine has launched the “Safer Internet Center.” This initiative has been implemented by non-profit organizations including “Magnolia,” “La Strada-Ukraine,” and “Docudays.”
The Center operates in three main areas:
Hotline StopCrime
This hotline takes reports of online materials related to child sexual abuse, aids in their removal, investigation, and collaborates with the international network INHOPE. The StopCrime project is established with the support of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Diya.Education, and the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine to combat violence against children online and assist in the investigation of such crimes.
Support Line for Children and Youth 116111
This national hotline provides psychological and legal support to children who have become victims of online violence or faced other internet threats.
Awareness Campaigns
The Center conducts informational campaigns aimed at children, parents, educators, law enforcement, and anyone interested in learning more about digital hygiene.
Safer Internet Centers are a common practice in EU countries and are supported within the Insafe network and the Better Internet for Kids strategy. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working with European partners to create a safe space for children in the digital environment and provide new opportunities to protect citizens' rights online, which are available in most EU countries and are now being implemented in Ukraine.
Learn about online behavior rules at the Safer Internet Center platform and complete interactive simulators at Diya.Education to prevent actions by scammers and criminals.