Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
filtered by Geographical
Estimated Probabilities of 15-Year-Olds Experiencing Poor Mental Health (Depression) by Gender and Time Spent on Social Media (2022)
The chart presents the results of a regression analysis based on countries that took both the ICT and the well-being PISA 2022 survey modules: Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain, covering a representative sample of 40,102 15-year-old students in 1,743 schools in Europe. It indicates that the correlation between time spent using social media and mental health is relatively consistent across genders, with both male and female adolescents reporting higher rates of depression and anxiety as social media usage increases. Yet, other factors other than time spent, or combinations of multiple factors, are likely to influence the relationship between the use of social media and mental health outcomes.
Life-Long Learning: Internet Use for Online Courses by Youth (16-29), 2021-2025
The chart shows data on internet use for individuals aged 16 to 29 years old over the years 2021-2025. The data reveals a significant downward trend in online course participation across the EU-27, falling from a high of 35.4% in 2021 to 22.46% in 2025. Nearly one-quarter of all European youth still rely on the internet for skill development and education, highlighting the internet's continued status as a secondary classroom.
Mental Health in 15-Year-Olds by Gender (2022)
The chart shows the share of 15-year-olds experiencing poor mental health, specifically symptoms of depression and anxiety, disaggregated by gender. In 2022, nearly half of all adolescents (47%) report symptoms of depression and over half (53%) struggle with anxiety. Female adolescents report higher rates of mental health struggles, with 60% experiencing depression and 65% experiencing anxiety.
Opinion on age target for social media prohibition for minors - respondents 18 and above NEW
This chart illustrates public opinion of adults (aged 18 and above) in the European Union regarding the appropriate legal age for accessing social media platforms, as determined by a 2026 FRA survey of more than 26000 adults. The data reveal a strong preference for high age limits, with the ag of 16 (16%) and the age of 18 or above (16%) emerging as the most popular legal cutoffs. Combining these with those favouring ages of 14 and 15, almost 56% of the population supports a 'digital majority' age of 14 or higher. A significant trend emerges regarding the rejection of unregulated access: only 1% of respondents believe there should be no age limitations, signalling near-universal public agreement on the necessity of age restrictions. While the preference for a 16-year limit provides a democratic mandate for the 'hard prohibitive' models currently proposed in countries such as Spain and Denmark, a notable 12% of the population still believes that the decision should remain the responsibility of parents. A significant trend emerges when these results are compared with those of the adolescent demographic (aged 15–17) - chart #68. While adults anchor their preference at the 16- and 18-year thresholds (32% combined), teenagers overwhelmingly favour a younger cutoff of 14 or 15 (31% combined). Furthermore, adults are four times more likely than adolescents to believe that the limit should be set at 18 or over (16% versus 4%), reflecting a far more restrictive outlook compared to adolescents' preference for mid-adolescent entry points. Adults show significantly less platform-specific nuance: they are only half as likely as teenagers to suggest that the limit should 'depend on the social media platform' (5% vs 11%). This suggests that the adult population favours a more uniform, 'blanket' regulatory approach.
Opinion on age target for social media prohibition for minors – Respondents aged 15-17 NEW
This chart illustrates the views of adolescents (aged 15–17) on the appropriate legal age for accessing social media, as revealed by a 2026 FRA survey. The data reveal a clear 'youth consensus' centred around the age of 14 or 15, with 15 (16%) and 14 (15%) emerging as the most popular thresholds. Combined with those favouring ages 12 and 13 (13% and 11% respectively), over half of the teenage respondents (55%) support a limit between 12 and 15 years. A significant trend emerges when these results are compared to those of the adult demographic - chart #68. While adults favoured limits of 16 and 18+, adolescents overwhelmingly rejected these higher cutoffs, with only 6% supporting a limit of 16 and 4% supporting a limit of 18. Furthermore, teenagers are twice as likely as adults to suggest that the limit should 'depend on the social media platform' (11%), indicating a more nuanced understanding of platform-specific risks.
Percentage of 15-Year-Old Students Using Digital Devices During a Typical Week by Type of Leisure Activity, 2022
This table shows the percentage of 15-year-olds in European countries who engage in various digital leisure and functional activities (namely: create or edit their own digital content, communicate and share digital content on social networks, play video-games, learn how to do something, look for practical information online, browse social networks, browse the Internet - excluding social networks - for fun). Social networking and leisure browsing dominate digital activity among EU 15-year-olds, with participation consistently exceeding 94% across all analysed countries. Content creation shows the greatest variance: countries such as Greece (80.1%) and Latvia (79.1%) significantly outperform the OECD average of 69%, in stark contrast to Ireland's lower rate of 55.4%. Furthermore, approximately 89% of students in Poland and Estonia use the internet for functional purposes, such as learning new skills or seeking practical information. This highlights a notable shift from passive consumption to active, goal-oriented engagement in Central and Southern Europe.
Perceptions of the importance of digital skills NEW
This table illustrates how the public perceives the importance of digital skills in relation to social, economic and educational factors in the European Union. The data reveal a near-universal consensus that digital literacy is a fundamental utility, with 89% of respondents ("strongly" and "somewhat") agreeing that these skills are essential for basic participation in society, for example, in banking and healthcare. The importance of digital competence is also recognised in the areas of education, with 85% of respondents ("strongly" and "somewhat") agreeing that these skills are essential for navigating the modern economy. The data reveal that 40% of respondents strongly agree that digital skills are essential for formal education and for the safe and responsible use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Furthermore, 80% of the public identifies digital literacy as a prerequisite for a successful career and a defence against misinformation.
Perceptions of the the impact of digital technologies NEW
This table shows the European population’s perception of the impact of digital technologies on education and training. The data reveal a broad consensus on the benefits of digitalisation, particularly regarding innovation and personalisation. A combined 87% of Europeans agree that technology makes education more innovative (35% strongly agree and 52% somewhat agree), and 77% agree that it allows for tailored learning (33% strongly agree and 54% somewhat agree). The survey also highlights a strong belief in the capacity of digital tools to foster inclusion and accessibility. A total of 84% of respondents agree that these technologies can break down barriers for people with disabilities, with 36% strongly agreeing: the highest proportion in the dataset. Similarly, 83% agree that technology makes education more accessible and inclusive overall (31% strongly agree and 52% somewhat agree), and 85% see it as beneficial for lifelong learning (33% strongly agree and 52% somewhat agree). However, the data also reflects significant socio-economic concerns. While the level of agreement is lower than for the benefits, a substantial 67% of Europeans still agree that digital technologies are too expensive for families (21% "strongly agree" and 46% "somewhat agree"). Furthermore, 64% of respondents express concern that these tools can increase inequalities in education (21% "strongly agree" and 43% "somewhat agree").
Preferred information sources for social and political current affairs
This table shows the percentage of people who prefer to get their information about social and political current affairs from the sources listed. TV remains the dominant medium, with 71% of respondents identifying it as a primary source. A significant secondary cluster of sources is closely followed, with nearly equal preference levels: radio (43%), the printed or online press (41%), search engines (40%), social media platforms (40%) and personal networks such as friends and family (40%). Digital-specific and emerging formats are less popular overall, with video platforms cited by 26% of respondents, followed by podcasts (15%) and AI chatbots (9%). Formal institutional sources, such as school teachers or university lecturers, are among the least popular options, with a mere 6% preference. The data indicates a clear hierarchy in which traditional broadcast media still lead, while a broad range of digital and interpersonal sources have consolidated around a 40% share of public preference.
Public Authorities Priorities Related to Digital Technologies
Almost nine out of ten European respondents (88%) state that countering and mitigating the issue of fake news and misinformation online. 83% think it is important for public authorities to shape the development of Artificial Intelligence and other digital technologies to ensure they respect our rights and values.