Attitudes Towards Social Media Algorithms (2025)

This table examines the attitudes of young people (aged 12-17) towards social media algorithms in five European countries: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The 2025 survey reveals a significant demand for digital agency, with 68% of respondents expressing a desire for more control over the content in their feeds. This desire is emphasised by a high level of concern about algorithmic influence: 56% of young people are worried that social media platforms control their experience, and 57% admit that algorithms cause them to spend more time online than intended. The findings also highlight a complex duality in user perception: while 50% of respondents recognise the functional benefits of algorithms in saving time and providing relevant content, 42% report not even noticing that algorithms are shaping their feeds.