Perception of efficacy of a social media ban in six European countries (2026)

This chart illustrates public perceptions of the efficacy of banning under-16s from social media across six European countries. The data reveal an efficiency gap: while a majority of Europeans support such a ban in principle, they are deeply divided and often pessimistic regarding its ability to prevent children from creating and using accounts. A significant regional trend emerges in terms of optimism levels: Italy is the most confident about the efficiency of the policy, with 61% of adults (25% of whom believe it will be "very effective") expecting the measure to succeed. Conversely, Britain is the most sceptical, with 54% of adults in total predicting that the ban will fail, including 17% who believe it will be 'not at all effective'. This scepticism is also evident in Poland and Germany, where approximately half of the population doubts the practical impact of the law.