A new EU-wide survey confirms the significant impact of excessive screen time and social media on young people’s mental and physical health. The publication of the survey coincides with the final meeting of the special panel on child safety online. The panel has advised the European Commission President on how to further strengthen the protection of minors online. They discussed lessons learned, good practices, and key topics such as empowering caregivers to ensure their children’s wellbeing online. On 13 July 2026, the panel co-chairs will present their final recommendations to the President.
Impact of screens and social media on adolescents’ health
The survey showed that on average, young people in the EU spend 4.5 hours online on school days and more than 6 hours at weekends. The results highlight the strong link between the age at which young people start using social media and the total time spent on screens.
Key findings
- 9 out of 10 adolescents report at least one negative symptom linked to screen use, such as tired eyes, headaches, concentration problems, or eating less healthily
- nearly 1 in 3 adolescents report feeling stressed, sad or socially excluded because of social media
- 45% of adolescents compare themselves to others on social media
- around 25% of adolescents have come across problematic content online, including hate speech
- 40% of adolescents request better access to mental health support
- over 50% of parents say screens negatively impact young people’s lives, and 36% feel social media harms their child’s mental wellbeing
- 54% of parents support additional age limits or restrictions on social media use
Strengthening EU action on child safety online
In 2026, President von der Leyen set up a special panel of experts to help develop a strong and practical European approach to keeping children safe online. The panel brought together youth representatives and specialists from various fields, including health, neuroscience, psychology, computer science, child rights, and digital literacy, from across the EU. They explored key issues related to children’s online safety, such as risks and benefits of social media use and existing measures to protect minors in the EU and globally, and how these could be strengthened.
Protecting minors online and supporting their mental health are top priorities for the Commission. While the EU already has a robust regulatory framework in place to protect children online, it is stepping up its efforts in response to growing online risks and concerns about the impact of digital platforms on minors’ safety, mental health, and wellbeing.
For more information
Special panel on child safety online
First meeting of special panel on child safety online
Second meeting of special panel on child safety online
Protecting and empowering young people online
Safe clicks: A practical guide to online safety
