EU survey reveals high levels of concern regarding children's online safety

A new report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), published on April 12, 2026, highlights widespread concern across EU member states regarding children's use of social media. More than eight out of ten respondents across the bloc expressed significant worry about risks such as cyberbullying, online grooming, privacy violations, and exposure to harmful content. Cyprus ranks among the countries with the highest levels of concern, with 92% of respondents citing anxieties about children's digital activity. Other countries recording high levels of concern include Spain, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovenia, France, Ireland, Portugal, and Italy. Conversely, lower levels of concern were reported in Romania, Germany, Hungary, and Croatia. The FRA attributes this trend to the increasing amount of time minors spend online and a lower age of initial platform access. Many parents surveyed indicated they feel inadequately equipped to monitor their children's online behavior as technology rapidly evolves. The study also explores public attitudes toward potential age restrictions for social media access.