Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
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Child Sexual Abuse Material Victim Demographics: Age Distribution (2023-2024)
In 2024, 93.24% of CSAM victims were pre-pubescent (ages 3-13), up from 90% in 2023, continuing to represent the vast majority of cases. Pubescent victims (ages 14-17) decreased to 6.59%, down from 10% in 2023, showing a notable decline. Infant and toddler victims (under 3 years old) accounted for 0.17%, a slight drop from 0.34% earlier in the year. These trends underscore the continued predominance of pre-pubescent victims.
Digital Governance: Interacting with Public Authorities by Age (2023)
This chart shows the percentage of individuals using the internet for visiting or interacting with public authorities' websites, in 2023, in Europe, United States and United Kingdom. The data shows e-Government engagement ranging from high-saturation levels in the Nordics to significantly lower participation in Eastern Europe. A significant generational trend emerges: while the 25-54 age group typically leads engagement due to administrative requirements, youth (16-24) participation is remarkably inconsistent across borders.
Division of Responsibility for Digital Literacy and Online Safety Education
This table maps the "Division of Responsibility" between the government and the family. A strong majority (62%) view Digital Literacy and Online Safety as a school responsibility. Despite the risks of the digital age, Mental Wellbeing (69%) and Moral Values (72%) are seen as strictly parental duties.
The survey covers 30 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States.
Gender Differences in Civic Knowledge NEW
This chart illustrates gender disparities in civic knowledge across different countries, as revealed by the 2022 ICCS results. The Y-axis represents the advantage that girls have over boys in terms of scale points. The data reveal a universal gender gap in civic knowledge, with girls outperforming boys in every surveyed nation. The international average difference is 26 scale points. A significant regional trend emerges, with countries in Northern and Eastern Europe reporting the highest disparities. Bulgaria (41 points), Sweden (37 points) and Norway (36 points) show a female advantage that is significantly higher than the international average. In contrast, the gender gap is significantly narrower in countries such as Spain (17 points) and France (13 points). Interestingly, the difference between boys and girls was found to be statistically insignificant in the Netherlands (10 points) and Colombia (6 points).
Generational Outlook: AI Will Have More Positive than Negative Impact on Education (2024)
Even among this "most optimistic" group, less than one-third of respondents believe the impact will be more positive than negative. There is only a 3-percentage point difference between the most optimistic (Gen Z) and the least optimistic (Boomers). The survey covers 30 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States.
Generational Perspectives on Device vs. Content Bans
The chart shows how different generations feel about banning smartphones in schools and imposing a blanket social media ban for under-14s. The data reveals a significant "Consensus Gap" between hardware restrictions and age-based platform access. While the generations are divided on whether smartphones belong in schools, they are remarkably united on the need to protect children under 14 when it comes to social media. The data covers 33 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States.
Global Public Sentiment on Social Media Bans for Under-14s (2024)
On average, 65% of people across 30 countries believe children under 14 should not be on social media.Germany is the only country where more people disagree with a ban (42%) than support it (40%), favoring education and personal freedom over strict laws. The study covers 30 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, and the United States.
Percentage of 11-year-olds who report problematic social media use
This table shows the percentage of 11-year-olds who experienced 'problematic' (addictive-like) social media use in 2022, broken down by the regions covered by the HBSC survey, including European member states, North America and Central Asia. The 2022 data reveal a significant 'early-onset addiction gap', with an average of 9% of children exhibiting at least six symptoms of digital dependency, such as withdrawal and loss of control, before entering their teens. A sharp regional divide emerges between Eastern and Western Europe: Romania (17–18%) and Bulgaria (14–16%) report the highest levels of early-stage problematic use, while the Netherlands (4–5%) and Switzerland (5%) have the lowest risk profiles in the dataset. Although the global average shows gender parity at 9%, striking gender disparities emerge in the United Kingdom and Mediterranean regions. In England and Malta, nearly one in five 11-year-old girls exhibits addictive behaviours, significantly higher than their male counterparts.
Percentage of 13-year-olds who report problematic social media use
This table shows the percentage of 13-year-olds who experienced 'problematic' (addictive-like) social media use in 2022 across the HBSC survey regions, which include European member states, North America and Central Asia. The 2022 data reveal a sharp increase in digital dependency among children entering their early teens, particularly among girls, where the average prevalence (16%) is almost double that among boys (9%). A pronounced regional risk cluster persists in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, with Romania (21–28%) and Malta (14–28%) reporting the highest levels of problematic use in the dataset. Unlike the 11-year-old cohort, striking gender disparities become the norm at age 13, particularly in Western and Southern Europe. In countries such as England, Ireland and Italy, girls are two to three times more likely than boys to exhibit addictive behaviours. Conversely, the Netherlands (5–8%) and Hungary (5–10%) continue to have the lowest risk profiles, suggesting that national digital cultures and domestic management strategies play a significant role in mitigating these symptoms during the "vulnerability window" of early adolescence.
Percentage of 15-year-olds who report problematic social media use
This table presents the percentage of 15-year-olds who reported 'problematic' (addictive-like) social media use in 2022 across the HBSC survey regions, including European member states, North America, and Central Asia. The 2022 data reveal a "vulnerability plateau" among mid-adolescents, with an average of 14% of girls and 8% of boys exhibiting clinical symptoms of digital dependency. A clear geographic divide remains evident: Romania (18–28%), Ireland (13–25%) and Malta (13–24%) reported the highest levels of problematic use, while the Netherlands (3–7%) and Hungary (3–9%) had the most resilient digital environments. At age 15, the gender gap in digital addiction remains significant across most of Europe, with girls being approximately twice as likely as boys to report symptoms of loss of control and withdrawal. This disparity is particularly striking in the Mediterranean and Anglosphere: in Cyprus and Greece, for example, more than one in five girls report problematic use, compared to around 10% of boys.