Algorithmic Transparency: The EU Digital Services Act and Young People’s Experiences of Online Platforms

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is currently being enforced across the EU, and several countries are introducing online safety regulations. As efforts to regulate digital spaces continue, so does evidence highlighting risks young people face from inappropriate content online, raising concerns about potential long-term psychological harm. To explore how the experiences of young people on large online platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, align with the focus of transparency obligations under the DSA, this paper provides details of a project that designed a series of stakeholder engagement studies. The project aims to demonstrate how engaging directly with young people on their experiences online is a vital measure to both inform the progress of the DSA and guide its implementation across the EU.