A newEU-wide surveyconfirms thesignificant impact of excessive screen timeandsocial mediaon 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 Presidenton how to further strengthen the protection of minors online.They discussedlessons learned, good practices, and key topics such asempowering caregiversto 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.

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 asrisks and benefits of social media useandexisting measures to protectminors 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 toprotect children online,it is stepping up its efforts in response to growing online risks andconcerns about the impact of digital platforms on minors’ safety, mental health, and wellbeing.

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