Major platforms, minor users: ECAT Workshop Book of Abstracts

The Workshop took place in Seville and gathered around 100 researchers to discuss insights on systemic risks of online platforms, particularly of very large online platforms and search engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs), as set out in the Digital Services Act (DSA). For the 2025 edition of the Workshop, the specific focus was on potential risks to the mental and physical health of children and young people, and how these can be mitigated. 

Preceding the workshop, ECAT ran a call for contributions which received  52 high-quality submissions from fields such as law, computer science, psychology and sociology. Through careful consideration by ECAT researchers, 14 of the submitted abstracts were selected to be presented at the event in poster sessions and presentations. 

The abstracts focus on diverse topics such as the impact of social media on sleep, content moderation, young people's perceptions of platform regulation, methodological approaches to longitudinal research and how to categorise potential harms. Alongside the panel and keynote discussions, these abstracts underscored that children and young people face a wide range of platform-related risks. Experts highlighted the need for stronger content moderation, age verification and design transparency practices, as well as coordinated mitigation strategies involving platforms, families, schools and regulators. Many also called for more data access and research to understand the impact of platforms, which is a priority area for the ECAT team.

The protection of minors remains high on the research and policy support agenda of ECAT. The team will continue to play its part in making the online world a positive place for children and young people to engage and express themselves while being protected from harm.

Download the Book of Abstracts here