JRC explains | 18 March 2025 | Joint Research Centre
The widespread use of social media among children and adolescents has become a pressing concern in recent years. Since 2010, the average time spent by children between 9 and 15 years old on screens and social media has more than doubled, to around 3 hours per day. Over 80% of young people in Europe use social media networks daily.
But what makes children so vulnerable to the impacts of social media on their mental health, behaviour, and well-being?
A critical phase for children’s brain development
Children and adolescents are in a critical phase of socio-emotional and brain development, making them more susceptible to the impact of social media. At this young age, the brain undergoes significant changes. This also coincides with an increase in social media use: between the ages of 9 and 16, the average time spent on social media goes up significantly.
Data across several EU countries show that on average 14 to 16-year-olds spend nearly twice as much time online than 9 to 10-year-olds.
Recent studies have shown that the use of technology can have an impact of the brain. Screen time may affect the pre-frontal cortex, which regulates self-control, decision-making, and impulse regulation. Social media can also affect the amygdala, the region of the brain that processes emotions and anxiety.
Long-term exposure to social media and constant notifications may lead to increased anxiety, and thus even structural changes in the amygdala over time.
Although usage increases significantly among young people, social media platforms are often designed with adults in mind, not children. Social media business models based on advertising have led to features that are aimed to keep you on the site and can trigger dependence and addiction in young users. The intensive use of these platforms by children can lead to unintended consequences, including physical harm and addiction.
For instance, recommender systems are algorithms that suggest content, friends, or products to users based on their interests and behaviour. While these systems can be beneficial in helping children and adolescents discover new information and connect with others, they also pose risks, such as potentially exposing them to harmful or inappropriate content and promoting addictive behaviour.
What are the current challenges?
The challenges in studying the impact of social media on young people are numerous. Factors such as age, gender, and social skills influence how children use social media and the impact it has on them. The design of social media platforms also plays a significant role in shaping experiences.
The lack of data collected over longer periods of time (longitudinal data) on social media use and its effects on young people makes it difficult to accurately assess the impacts on children's well-being and the psychological effects. While studies have identified correlations between depression, anxiety and loneliness and social media, we still do not have conclusive evidence of causation due to various confounding variables that might influence the relation between social media and negative impacts on mental well-being.
What is the EU doing?
To address these challenges, researchers are working to develop an interdisciplinary approach, combining technical expertise with knowledge of child development, education, and policy. JRC scientists mapped the factors that influence the impact of social media on children, including individual demographics and characteristics, individual use, and platform design.
This mapping is helping to identify areas where policy can be targeted to minimise risks and maximise benefits for children. For example, studying how the time spent on social media affects adolescents' mental health, including socio-demographic factors such as gender and the type of activity, can provide valuable insights.
This research is supporting the EU efforts to protect minors online and regulate social media. Milestones in this journey are the recent EU strategy for a Better Internet for Kids, the Digital Services Act, and the Council Conclusions on a comprehensive approach to the mental health of young people in the EU.
More recently, as part of its political priorities, the Commission announced the launch of an EU-wide enquiry to tackle the impacts of social media on well-being, including the addictive design of online services.
Future implications: creating a safer online environment
Looking to the future, research will continue to explore the impact of social media on children and young people with a focus on topics such as social media use, the impact of age verification systems, and the long-term consequences of social media use on children's development.
By anticipating the potential effects of policy interventions and conducting multi-year studies, researchers can inform policy and practice, ultimately helping to create a safer and more beneficial online environment for children.
As technology continues to play a greater role in our daily lives, it is essential to create awareness in the younger generation about both the risks and benefits of social media to promote healthy behaviour.