Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
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Attitude towards regulation of minors' online activities (2025)
This table examines the views of young people (aged 12-17) on digital regulation and the governance of their online lives across five European countries. The 2025 Euroconsumers survey reveals a high level of consent for protection, with an overwhelming 82% of respondents agreeing that minors should be restricted from accessing certain content. Furthermore, the findings suggest a preference for local versus distant authority: while 58% of young people agree that their parents should control the content they access, almost half (45%) do not believe that the government should control what minors do online. The survey also highlights a significant credibility gap between policymakers and parents on one hand and young people on the other. Notably, 76% of minors believe that adults should limit their own screen time before imposing restrictions on teenagers, suggesting that perceived hypocrisy could undermine the legitimacy of digital rules. Additionally, the population is deeply divided on the efficacy of the current status quo: only 37% believe that current regulations are sufficient and just 41% feel that the privacy and safety of teenagers receive enough attention.
Attitudes Towards Social Media Algorithms (2025)
This table examines the attitudes of young people (aged 12-17) towards social media algorithms in five European countries: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The 2025 survey reveals a significant demand for digital agency, with 68% of respondents expressing a desire for more control over the content in their feeds. This desire is emphasised by a high level of concern about algorithmic influence: 56% of young people are worried that social media platforms control their experience, and 57% admit that algorithms cause them to spend more time online than intended. The findings also highlight a complex duality in user perception: while 50% of respondents recognise the functional benefits of algorithms in saving time and providing relevant content, 42% report not even noticing that algorithms are shaping their feeds.
Best Methods for Age Verification According to Teenagers (aged 12-14 and 15-17) (2025)
This table examines the preferences of European teenagers (aged 12-17) regarding technical methods for age verification in five countries: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The 2025 data reveal that there is no single 'preferred' solution among young people; instead, support is fragmented across multiple technical approaches. A significant trend emerges among older teenagers (aged 15–17), who demonstrate the strongest preference for platform-specific verification (38%), indicating a preference for distinct digital identities rather than a universal 'digital key'. By contrast, younger teenagers (aged 12–14) are more open to centralised gatekeeping, with 34% supporting verification at the app store level compared to 28% of older teenagers. One-time, device-linked verification remains a consistently popular option for both age groups (34–36%), reflecting an appreciation of user convenience. While privacy-preserving methods such as dedicated anonymity apps (30–31%) and biometric identification (28–32%) receive significant support, they do not emerge as the leading choices.
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.
Opinion on age target for social media prohibition for minors - respondents 18 and above
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
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.
Overall support for social media ban in six European countires (2026)
This table shows the level of public support for banning social media for under-16s across France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland, based on a 2026 YouGov survey. The data reveal a strong 'consensus of concern' in Western and Southern Europe, where support for such a measure consistently exceeds 70%. France leads the group with 79% support, reflecting its legislative momentum towards banning under-15s, followed closely by Britain (76%) and Germany (74%). A significant trend emerges regarding the 'legitimacy gap' in Eastern Europe: while Poland still has a majority in favour (53%), it also has the highest level of public opposition at 39%, which is nearly double the resistance seen in France or Britain.
Perception of efficacy of a social media ban in six European countries (2026)
This chart illustrates public perceptions of the efficacy of banning under-16s from social media across six European countries. The data reveal an efficiency gap: while a majority of Europeans support such a ban in principle, they are deeply divided and often pessimistic regarding its ability to prevent children from creating and using accounts. A significant regional trend emerges in terms of optimism levels: Italy is the most confident about the efficiency of the policy, with 61% of adults (25% of whom believe it will be "very effective") expecting the measure to succeed. Conversely, Britain is the most sceptical, with 54% of adults in total predicting that the ban will fail, including 17% who believe it will be 'not at all effective'. This scepticism is also evident in Poland and Germany, where approximately half of the population doubts the practical impact of the law.
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.