PRESS RELEASE: CTU lecturers spoke to thousands of schoolchildren: The risks in the online space are enormous and need to be taken seriously
Prague, 17 February 2026 – Digital technologies are an integral part of children’s and adolescents’ lives. Social networks, video platforms and online games bring them fun and communication, but they also pose a number of serious risks. Therefore, in its role as the coordinator of digital services in the Czech Republic, the Czech Telecommunication Office organizes discussions and lectures for minors, educators and parents (in 2025 alone, we organized discussions for more than 4,000 minors), which draw attention to the risks, support the development of digital literacy and safe behavior in the online environment.
The main risks for children include exposure to inappropriate or harmful content, including violent, erotic or manipulative material. Platform recommendation algorithms can further amplify this content. Another problem is the so-called “brainrot” content for the youngest children, which is based on quick editing and excessive stimulation without any added value and can negatively affect a child’s concentration and development.
The online environment also creates space for cyberbullying, anonymous harassment and manipulative behavior, for example in online games. Risks also include excessive use of digital services, the development of addictive behavior and microtransactions in the gaming environment. Minors are also exposed to targeted advertising and the collection of personal data, the consequences of which they often do not fully understand.
Another risk is the issue of child pornography. Teenagers do not realize that the mere act of taking a naked photo of themselves and sharing it is not legal. “Nevertheless, the internet is full of such material and it is one of the frequent crimes committed by teenagers and subsequently dealt with by the Czech Police. Children are often unaware of the danger and, under pressure from their surroundings or with trust in another person, for example a partner, will provide intimate material, which can then spread uncontrollably and cause irreversible consequences, including criminal charges,” warns Václav Linhart, a lecturer at the Telecommunications Academy (TA).
"Parents are usually familiar with social networks, but they do not realize that many common and seemingly harmless games are also essentially social networks: the gameplay mechanism is relatively easy and the game is much more focused on communication between players. A child can easily be inappropriately addressed by, for example, a strange adult," warns TA lecturer Jaroslav Doležal.
The DSA Regulation responds to these risks, obliging platforms to ensure a high level of protection and safety for children, prohibiting advertising targeting based on profiling of minors and restricting the use of manipulative user interface elements. The CTU, as the coordinator of digital services, is ready to supervise the application of these rules and cooperates with other authorities at national and European level. However, the Office cannot act until the Digital Economy Act is adopted. Citizens can submit complaints regarding possible violations of platforms' obligations under the DSA Regulation through the CTU's standard communication channels.
Tereza Meravá
Spokesperson