Positive Perceptions of Social Media (Youth' and Parents' perceptions)

This chart from the 2026 Flash Eurobarometer 'Impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental health' highlights a notable 'utility gap' in the perceptions of European adolescents and parents regarding the benefits of social media. While there is a relative consensus that these platforms facilitate social connection (70% of young people versus 64% of parents), a significant difference in opinion emerges regarding the educational and expressive value of digital life. Adolescents are twice as likely as their parents to believe that they 'learn a lot' online (65% vs 33%), and nearly twice as likely to view social media as a primary tool for self-expression (62% vs 35%). 63% of adolescents report that social media improves their mood, whereas only 41% of parents observes a similar positive emotional shift in their children. Furthermore, the majority of young people (55%) identify social media as a source of personal confidence.