Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
filtered by Geographical
Actions Recommended by Parents and Adolescents Themselves to Protect Mental Wellbeing on Social Media
This chart from the 2026 Flash Eurobarometer 'Impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental health' highlights a significant 'regulation divergence' between the active intervention strategies used by parents and the self-regulatory behaviours of adolescents. Patterns of protective action show that parents adopt a diversified set of strategies, dominated by dialogue and encouragement rather than by strict coercion. The data reveal a substantial communication gap: although 47% of parents say they talk to their children about their online activities, only 26% of adolescents say they engage in these conversations. Similarly, the perception of formal screen time or parental control tools usage varies between adolescents and their parents (33% of parents admit relying on this type of protective action, while only 19% of adolescents admit relying on such features). A significant trend emerges in the area of technical agency. Adolescents are more likely to take technical 'silencing' measures than parents realise; they are more proactive in limiting notifications (26% vs 17%) and reporting harmful content (25% vs 18%). Furthermore, adolescents are more likely than their parents to seek professional mental health support (14% vs 9%) in response to digital stress.
Average hours of screen use per day "during the weekend (Saturday or Sunday)” by gender and age group
Based on the 2026 Flash Eurobarometer 'Impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental health', this chart shows how many hours European adolescents spend on screens during a typical weekend (Saturday and Sunday), broken down by gender and age group. The data reveal a clear developmental trend, with screen time increasing steadily as children grow older. Weekend usage grows from an average of 5.5 hours for 13–14-year-olds to a peak of 7.1 hours for 17–18-year-olds, representing a 29% increase in digital engagement over four years. Female adolescents report slightly higher-intensity usage (6.3 hours), compared to their male peers (5.9 hours).
Awareness of Online Applicability of the Fundamental Rights
Awareness of the fact that fundamental rights also apply online is currently in decline across the European Union. Only 59% of citizens are aware of their digital legal standing.
Children’s Online Activities
These data from the 2026 EU Kids Online report provide a comprehensive overview of the digital activities and habits of 29,169 children across 19 European countries. The data reveal that digital spaces are primarily used for social connection and entertainment. The most frequent activity is communicating with friends, with 77% of children doing so daily (48% several times a day). Social media is also a vital tool for family communication, with 66% of children communicating with parents or caregivers daily. Watching videos on social media (72% daily) and listening to music (70% daily) far outpace active digital production, only 13% of children report creating or editing digital content daily. Furthermore, 68% of children use the internet for schoolwork or to learn something new at least once a week.
Children’s Views on Restrictions on Social Media
These data from the 2026 EU Kids Online report examine children's attitudes towards social media restrictions, revealing a delicate balance between their desire for autonomy and their acknowledgement of potential advantages. The data show that a significant proportion of European young people (47% in total) disagree with restrictions, fearing that they would make it difficult to participate in online discussions about news or politics, indicating concern for their civic participation rights. Similarly, almost half (48% in total) are concerned that restrictions would make it more difficult to stay in touch with friends, emphasising the social value of these platforms. A key trend emerges in the tension between perceived control and safety. While 45% of children agree that restrictions would limit their freedom and rights, only 33% believe that these restrictions would make them feel safer online. This suggests that young people are sceptical that bans would genuinely enhance their security. Furthermore, a significant proportion (48% total disagreement) would feel less comfortable if their parents knew which apps they used, emphasising their desire for digital privacy and autonomy from parental oversight.
Children’s Worries
These data from the 2026 EU Kids Online report illustrate the hierarchy of anxieties among 29,169 European children, contextualising digital risks within the broader scope of real-world concerns. The data reveal that children’s primary concerns are existential and academic: family illness or death (73%) and school performance (71%) significantly outweigh specific digital risks. However, digital risks carry a high 'intensity of worry'; for instance, although only 45% are concerned about non-consensual image-sharing, this issue receives the second-highest 'very worried' rating in the dataset (25%). A significant trend emerges regarding digital self-awareness. A total of 63% of children report being worried about 'using screens too much,' although the majority (39%) categorise this as 'a little worried'. Similarly, 51% of young people express concern about fake images (AI/deepfakes) and 49% about the difficulty of knowing who to trust online due to fake news.
Concerns about safety of children when using social media
This chart illustrates public concerns in the European Union about the safety of children on social media, as revealed by a 2026 FRA survey of over 26,000 individuals. The data reveal an overwhelming consensus on digital risks, with concern levels exceeding 80% for all eight monitored categories. The most acute anxieties are tied to encountering violent content and predatory exploitation, both of which reach a peak concern level of 89% (54% are "very concerned"). Concerns about excessive usage and data exploitation both rank nearly as high at 88%, directly mirroring ongoing policy debates about addictive design and privacy issues. Even the category with the lowest reported level of concern (for example, the exposure to conspiracy theories) still affects 80% of the population.
Cyberbullying Prevalence (2022)
The chart shows the percentages of children experiencing cyberbullying, in 2022, in 22 European Union members with the prevalence of children experiencing cyberbullying ranging from 5% in Spain to a high of 23% in Lithuania. A clear regional trend emerges: Southern European nations, including Portugal (7%) and Italy (8%), report significantly lower rates of cyberbullying, while the Baltic and Eastern European states, most notably Lithuania (23%), Poland (21.5%), and Latvia (21.5%), report the highest levels.
Cyberbullying Prevalence by Gender (2022)
This chart shows the percentage of children experiencing cyberbullying by gender in 2022 across 22 European Union member states. The data shows that digital harassment risks vary significantly by gender and national context.
Daily Active Social Media Use: 15-Year-Olds (2022)
This chart shows the distribution of time spent on active social media activities, such as messaging, posting content, or sharing media, by 15-year-olds on a typical weekday. The data reveal that active participation remains a dominant behaviour for the vast majority of youth, with 84% of adolescents reporting daily active usage.