Evidence Library
Comprehensive data charts, academic papers, and statistical analysis on the impact of social media on children and adolescents.
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.
Enforcement gaps of age assurance in tested digital services
This chart illustrates the discrepancy between the legal policies of digital services and the technical reality, in several apps and websites tested. Although 62% of tested platforms (517 out of 832) explicitly prohibit children under the age of 13 in their terms of service, almost a third, 32% of these (164 out of 517) offer no mechanism to prevent underage access whatsoever. The remaining 68% of the tested platforms use at least one age assurance mechanism, the most commonly employed being: self-declaration, age verification or age estimation. The distribution of these methods is presented in Chart n. 81
Estimated Probabilities of 15-Year-Olds Experiencing Poor Mental Health (Anxiety) 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.
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.
Exposure to Misinformation (2022)
This chart shows the percentage of individuals who have seen untrue or doubtful information or content on internet news sites or social media, in 2022, across 22 European member states, EEA partners (Norway, Iceland), and Switzerland. Reported exposure to misinformation ranges from 34.5% in Greece to a high of 70.7% in the Netherlands. A clear regional trend emerges: Northern European and Nordic nations, including Finland (69.8%), Sweden (64.7%), and the Netherlands (70.7%), report the highest levels of exposure, while Southern European nations, specifically Greece (34.5%) and Italy (37.4%), report significantly lower encounters with doubtful information.
Exposure to Misinformation: Breakdown by Age Group (2022)
This chart shows the percentage of individuals who have seen untrue or doubtful information or content on internet news sites or social media in 2022, disaggregated by age groups (16-24, 25-54/64, and 55/65+) in Europe. The data reveal a stark "generational information gap" within the European digital space, with the youngest demographic (16-24) consistently reporting the highest exposure to doubtful content across every territory. Among this youth group, exposure to misinformation ranges from 41.6% in Greece to a peak of 80.7% in the Netherlands, suggesting that in highly digitised markets, encounter rates with doubtful information are nearly universal for young people.
Gender Differences in Civic Knowledge
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.