The European Commission (EC) has called attention to some troubling patterns in the Internet use of youth, noting that they are using the Internet for an average of 4.5 hours a day during a school day and more than 6 hours a day on a weekend. One of the alarming portions, which is about 14% of young people, is over 10 hours of screen time per day.
Psychosocial Impact
Social media has a real negative impact on the well-being of young people. Around 34% of young people feel anxious, unhappy, or socially excluded due to platforms. Also, one in four children have come across harmful or inappropriate content on the internet, which poses significant concerns on the accountability of the platforms and digital safeguarding measures.
Parental Anxiety on the Rise
Parents are not insensitive to these dangers. A Flash Eurobarometer survey from May 2026 found that almost three quarters of parents are “truly worried” that their children are exposed to “dangerous and inappropriate” content in digital environments.
The big view
These figures clearly indicate that the need for a more robust approach to digital literacy education, tight regulations on platforms, and open dialogue within the family around social issues of responsible use is becoming increasingly urgent and must be taken up jointly by governments and society at large.
