97 per cent of young people are online daily, with 65 per cent relying on social media for their main news source. Among 13 to 17-year-olds, 78 per cent check their devices hourly. 9 to 15-year-olds spend up to 3 hours on social platforms, and 25 per cent admit to smartphone addiction, according to the 2025 Parliament's report on an EU-wide minimum age for social media.
The EU already took steps to safeguard minors online through initiatives such as the Digital Market Act, the Strategy for a Better Internet for Kids, and the Action Plan Against Cyberbullying.
