Cover page of FRA's report on protecting children on social media
27
March
2026

Protecting children on social media – Views on age limits

This publication presents findings from an EU-wide survey on public attitudes to children’s use of social media. It presents people’s key concerns and their views on the minimum age limits for accessing social media platforms. The survey draws on the views of both teenagers and adults – those most directly affected. The findings offer a useful evidence base for policy discussions on social media age restrictions in the EU.

Over eight in 10 people in the EU surveyed are fairly or very concerned about a range of harms that the use of online services and platforms may pose for children.

  • 89 % (nine in 10) are concerned about children being approached online by people seeking to exploit them.
  • The same number are concerned about children being exposed to violent content.
  • 88 % are concerned about children spending too much time using certain apps and becoming addicted.

Most people in the EU (aged 18 and above) support legal prohibitions of social media use for children.

  • 74 % (three in four) think that social media should be prohibited for children of a certain age.
  • Survey respondents most often indicated that restrictions should apply until either the age of 16 (16 % of respondents) or 18 (also 16 % of respondents).
  • Other survey respondents indicated until the age 15 (13 %) or 14 (11 %).

The majority of teenage respondents think that social media use should be restricted until a certain age (based on 531 respondents 15 to 17 years of age).

  • When asked about what age it should be restricted until, 13 % said until age 12, 11 % said until age 13, 15 % said until age 14, and 16 % said until 15 years of age.

Less often, teenagers think social media should only be allowed when they turn 16 (6 %), 17 (0 %) or 18 (4 %).