Perceived Impact of Social Media on Mental Wellbeing by Adolescents and Parents

Based on the 2026 Flash Eurobarometer 'Impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental health', this chart reveals a significant 'perception gap' between European adolescents and their parents regarding the impact of social media on mental health. The data show that adolescents are significantly more optimistic about their digital lives: almost half (48%) report a positive impact on their well-being, compared to just 21% of parents who feel the same way about their children's experiences online. Parents are twice as likely as adolescents to perceive social media as harmful: 36% of parents report a negative impact on their child’s wellbeing, compared to only 18% of adolescents who report the same for themselves. Furthermore, while 42% of parents remain neutral ('neither positive nor negative').