Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
filtered by Geographical
Public Perception: EU Protection of Digital Rights (2025)
Respondents were asked to what extent they think that the EU protects their rights in the digital environment. Less than half (44%) of respondents think that the EU protects their rights in the digital environment well and 41% of respondents think their rights are not well protected.
Public Urgency: Protecting Children from Online Risks (2025)
Public sentiment across the EU27 demonstrates an overwhelming mandate for regulatory intervention to protect minors online. Mental health risks emerge as the most critical concern, with 93% of respondents demanding public action, 67% of whom categorise it as 'very urgent.' This high level of concern is matched by a near-unanimous call for protection against cyberbullying and the implementation of robust age-assurance mechanisms, both of which are viewed as urgent by 92% of the population.
Share of users in the EU showing patterns of social media addiction, by age groups NEW
This chart illustrates the proportion of EU users exhibiting patterns indicative of social media addiction (based on responders' self-identification of addiction patterns), specifically defined as the tendency to neglect work, school, or family responsibilities. The data reveal a significant 'functional impairment gap' between generations, with around 33% of those aged 16–30 reporting that their use of social media interferes with their daily responsibilities. This rate is almost triple that of the older cohort, with only 12% of users aged 31 and over reporting similar patterns of neglect.
Social Media Participation of Youth (16 to 29 Years Old), 2021-2025
The chart shows data on social media participation (i.e., participation in social networks: creating user profiles, posting messages or other contributions to social media) for individuals aged 16 to 29 years old over the years 2021-2025. The data indicates a significant expansion in social networking engagement, with the EU-27 average rising from 82.9% in 2021 to 89.28% in 2025.
Social Media Platforms Used by Young Users for Information on Political and Social Issues
This chart shows which social media platforms are used most frequently by young people (aged 16–30) in the 27 European Union member states to access information on political issues. Significant regional variations exist among member states beyond the European average: in Italy and Portugal, for example, Instagram usage for news peaks at 59% and 56%, respectively. Although it is used less frequently on average, Facebook remains the primary news source for young people in Lithuania (56%), Hungary (55%) and Croatia (54%). TikTok usage is highest in Austria and Hungary (both 49%), while YouTube is the preferred platform in Ireland and Poland (both 46%). Ireland shows the highest engagement with X (Twitter) at 37%. To better visualise this, select a single social media platform on the X axis.
Social Media Platforms Used by Young Users for Information on Political and Social Issues (EU27 average)
On average across the 27 European member states, Instagram was found to be the most commonly used platform (47%), followed by TikTok (39%) and YouTube (37%). Lower shares obtain information from Facebook (27%) and X (Twitter) (21%). WhatsApp is used for information on political and social issues by 16% of respondents. Other social media and platforms, including Snapchat (9%), Telegram (7%), Messenger (6%), LinkedIn (5%), Discord (4%) and Viber (2%), are mentioned less often by young people as sources of information on political and social issues.
Teaching digital skills NEW
This table illustrates the public support for incorporating digital literacy into formal education systems across Europe. The data reveal an overwhelming consensus across the European Union: 92% of respondents agree, to various extents, that digital skills should be taught to everyone in schools and universities. Notably, almost eight in ten (78%, combining "strongly" and "somewhat" agreeing to the statement) believe that these skills should be given the same institutional importance as reading, mathematics and science, and 76% agree, both "strongly" and "somewhat", that this instruction should begin at an early age.
Top-5 Main Sources of Information for Young People (16 to 30 Years Old), 2024
This chart shows the top five main sources of information for young people aged 16 to 30. The data reveal a clear predominance of digital-first habits, with social media platforms (42%) such as Instagram and TikTok serving as the primary gateway to information for this demographic. This is followed closely by TV (39%), indicating that while digital platforms lead, traditional broadcast media still maintains a significant foothold in the daily lives of young adults. A significant trend emerges in the fragmentation of other sources: online press and news platforms (26%) trail social media by 16 percentage points, suggesting a shift away from direct news consumption toward algorithmically curated content. Friends, family, and colleagues (25%) remain a critical interpersonal source of information, while video platforms (23%) like YouTube solidify the importance of visual media as a primary information channel.
When you're unsure whether a piece of information on social media is disinformation, what do you typically do?
This table illustrates the typical verification strategies employed by European citizens when encountering suspected disinformation on social media across European member states in 2022. Almost half of European citizens (49%) rely on cross-referencing information to verify social media content. However, specialised fact-checking tools are significantly underutilised, with only 14% of people using them. This 'verification gap' suggests that most users rely on informal peer feedback rather than professional infrastructure to navigate digital falsehoods.
Youth (16-29) Internet Use for Civic and Political Participation (2023-2025)
The chart shows data on internet use for civic and political participation for individuals aged 16 to 29 years old over the years 2023-2025. The data reveal that digital civic engagement has become a significant, though periodically volatile, component of youth identity in Europe. The European Union average reached a notable peak in 2024 at 26.06%, coinciding with a period of intense political activity across the Union.