Actions Recommended by Parents and Adolescents Themselves to Protect Mental Wellbeing on Social Media

This chart from the 2026 Flash Eurobarometer 'Impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental health' highlights a significant 'regulation divergence' between the active intervention strategies used by parents and the self-regulatory behaviours of adolescents. Patterns of protective action show that parents adopt a diversified set of strategies, dominated by dialogue and encouragement rather than by strict coercion. The data reveal a substantial communication gap: although 47% of parents say they talk to their children about their online activities, only 26% of adolescents say they engage in these conversations. Similarly, the perception of formal screen time or parental control tools usage varies between adolescents and their parents (33% of parents admit relying on this type of protective action, while only 19% of adolescents admit relying on such features). A significant trend emerges in the area of technical agency. Adolescents are more likely to take technical 'silencing' measures than parents realise; they are more proactive in limiting notifications (26% vs 17%) and reporting harmful content (25% vs 18%). Furthermore, adolescents are more likely than their parents to seek professional mental health support (14% vs 9%) in response to digital stress.