For today’s European minors, life unfolds across two intertwined worlds. School, sports, hanging out with friends - and then the scroll, swipe, and stream. The digital realm isn’t separate; it’s a central part of growing up.
Minors’ digital reality is subject to many heated debates. Just recently, Ursula Von der Leyen called for a council to decide on a social media ban. Yet often this conversation lacks the voices of the main characters – the young people who we seek to protect – at risk of missing their reality, their support, and ultimately also missing their target.
Euroconsumers’ recent survey of over 3,300 minors aged 12–17 from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland gives a rare chance to hear directly from young people. Their message is clear: they want access to online spaces that let them learn, create, and connect safely. They’re calling for platforms designed to protect them by default, tools that give them control, and policymakers who listen to their voices.
If Europe aims for a digital world that is fair, safe, and future proof, it must be built with minors, not just for them.
Beyond the stereotype
The myth of the screen-obsessed, antisocial teen doesn’t hold up. Yes, 96% own a smartphone and spend an average of 3.2 hours online daily. But 79% also meet with friends and play sports weekly, 60% of them play instruments, and over half volunteer or join clubs. Offline and online lives reinforce one another.
The internet, for them, is not just entertainment. Two-thirds say it’s their way of staying in touch with people they care about, while six in ten use it to learn new things, follow world events, and express their creativity.
Minors vs. screens: “I can handle it”
When it comes to screen time, teens project confidence. One in three admit being online too much affects school performance, but almost two-thirds say they feel in control. Half have already tried cutting back, and 63% find screen-time limiting tools effective. Yet even among those who “feel in control” a quarter still spends over four hours a day online. Confidence doesn’t always equal balance - but it shows a clear appetite for tools that support healthier habits.
The more active teens are offline, the more engaged they are online
The many faces of teens’ online life
Social media: four out of five are on at least four platforms, and most joined before the official age of 13. Social media fuels friendships, but at least for some also anxiety: 28% feel restless without notifications, 25% feel low if their posts don’t get likes.
Gaming: 85% play, but they find in-game advertising annoying (77%) and four out of ten feel pressured to spend money on in-game features.
Influencers: Four in five teens follow them and 69% have even bought something based on influencer promotion. Only 43% say they can spot paid advertising.
Algorithms and ads: while half appreciate personalised feeds, most don’t like to be manipulated. Two-thirds want more say in what shows up.
Generative AI: Already mainstream, with 68% using tools like ChatGPT or image generators. But one in four struggle to detect fake text, photo or videos.
Euroconsumers’ recent survey of over 3,300 minors aged 12–17 from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland gives a rare chance to hear directly from young people.
The savvy generation?
This is not a naive generation. They know the benefits of being online but are equally aware of the risks that some have unfortunately also experienced: strangers contacting them (29%), hate speech (14%), unsolicited explicit content (11%), cyberbullying (8%) or threats to expose intimate photos (7%).
At the same time, they adopt protective strategies: adjusting privacy settings, filtering friend requests, limiting location sharing. Parents also play a role - 83% of teens have rules in place, though a quarter of older respondents report none, and one in ten admit bypassing controls.
Towards a digital world designed for minors
Here’s where the survey really breaks ground. Teens aren’t calling for bans first. In fact, support for restrictions fades with age. A 12-year-old may see some merit in age limits; by 16, almost none do. Instead, minors are sending Brussels a clear message:
Struggling with a social media ban
Social media is central to teen life. Bans or age restrictions are often suggested by policy makers, but platforms are also vital for connection, information and identity-building. Teens may see value in restrictions for those younger, but resist when the rules apply to them. Prohibition risks being counterproductive.
This paints a picture of a generation that is aware, resourceful, and resilient - but still vulnerable. And they are asking for policymakers’ help, not by shutting doors, but by building smarter ones
A call for safety-by-design
Teens rather favour safety-by-design: default protections, filters, and minor-specific settings. By introducing safety features from the start, policymakers can both protect minors and ensure they don’t lose access to innovation.
A call for empowerment
Young people want control over their feeds, the ability to set screen-time limits, and accessible reporting channels. In fact, 93% want a dedicated support line for minors or “Think before you share” pop-ups. They prefer accountability and empowerment over external restrictions.
A call for agency
Above all, teens want to be heard. They understand online risks, but insist on nuanced solutions that preserve the positives of digital life. Smart regulation, platform responsibility, parental support, more empowerment and youth engagement together can create a “minor-proof” digital world. Build for minors, with minors.
An opportunity for Brussels
For legislators, these findings offer an opportunity. Heavy-handed bans or too rigid restrictions might tackle the bad, but they also kill the good and teens will find ways around them. Instead, Europe can lead globally by shaping a digital ecosystem grounded in the realities, needs and voices of its youngest citizens. Embedding safety-by-design, empowering choice, tackling manipulation, and ensuring fairness, can set a powerful benchmark for truly future-proof digital policy.
Discover Euroconsumers’ research on what 3,300 young Europeans say about their digital lives.
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