Final meeting of the Special Panel on child safety online as Eurobarometer confirms link between social media use and wellbeing

Today, the Special Panel on child safety online met for the third and final time.

On 13 July, the Panel's Co-chairs will present recommendations to President Ursula von der Leyen on how to further strengthen the EU's trailblazing framework for the protection of minors online.

On the occasion of the final panel, a new Eurobarometer survey confirms the significant impact of excessive screentime and social media on the mental and physical health of young people. On average, young people across Europe spend 4.5 hours online during a school day and 6.1 hours a day at weekends. Most strikingly, 14% of adolescents report spending more than 10 hours a day on screens.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said:

Social media can connect and inspire. But when one in three young people say it leaves them feeling stressed, sad or excluded, we cannot ignore the impact on their mental health and wellbeing. And when a quarter of our young people are confronted with problematic content online - from hate speech, to body pressure, to unexpected violence - it is a clear signal that it is time for change.

Read the full press release.

Find out more about how the EU is protecting and empowering young people online.

You can also read more about:

• the EU Action Plan against Cyberbullying
• the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its Guidelines on the protection of minors
• the Better Internet for Kids Strategy and its network of Safer Internet Centres
• the EU Age Verification App

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