Experience and frequency of potentially harmful online content, by country (Base: All children 10–16) - European Average

This dataset from the EU Kids Online 2026 comparative study provides European policymakers with essential baseline information by mapping children's annual self-reported exposure to seven key categories of harmful content. On average across the European Union, exposure to severe risks is strikingly widespread, with gory or violent images (40%) and body image content encouraging extreme thinness (39%) being the main culprits. Self-harm instructions are seen by 37% of children, dangerous challenges and dares are seen by 36%, and substance use narratives are seen by 33%. Furthermore, a significant proportion of European children encounter adult pornography (27%) and explicit suicide methods (25%).