Bans on the use of social media by children cannot alone solve safety issues online. This conclusion was reached by the authors of the international study EU Kids Online 2026, who call for greater attention to digital literacy, parental involvement, and the responsibility of the platforms themselves.
Age restrictions and bans on the use of social media alone cannot fully protect children in the digital environment. This is stated in the EU Kids Online 2026 study, which focuses on the potential advantages and disadvantages of restricting access to social networks for minors.
As reported to LETA by the Latvian Academy of Culture, whose researchers participated in the preparation of the international review, protecting children online remains an important task, but it cannot be solved solely through prohibitive measures.
The authors of the study emphasize that alongside technical restrictions, the development of digital literacy, active parental involvement, the responsibility of internet platforms, and the creation of a safer online environment for children are of great importance.
At the same time, researchers raise the question of the need to maintain a balance between protecting minors and their right to fully participate in the digital life of society.
According to researcher Gints Klasons, public discussions often assume that stricter age restrictions automatically mean a higher level of safety. However, the study's results show a much more complex picture.
"There is a risk that in trying to shield children from some threats, we simultaneously deprive them of important opportunities. Therefore, it is necessary to assess not only what children lose by using social networks, but also what they may miss out on if access to them is closed," Klasons noted.
The study showed that the digital life of modern children is closely intertwined with their everyday lives and does not exist separately from it.
The most common online activity remains communicating with friends. This is followed by watching videos on social media, listening to music, and communicating with parents or other close adults.
In the six countries participating in the study, the presence of a social media profile was confirmed by:
- 34% of children aged 9 to 11;
- 70% of teenagers aged 12 to 14;
- 89% of teenagers aged 15 to 16.
One in five children in Europe aged 9 to 16 reported encountering problematic user content online. Most often, this concerned conspiracy theories, indicating serious concern about the spread of misinformation online.
At the same time, children's worries are not limited to the internet. They are concerned about the health of family members, wars, future jobs, and academic performance in school.
Researchers also note that children from families with lower socio-economic status are more likely to seek information about mental health online and more frequently engage in potentially risky behaviors—such as meeting strangers or posting personal information publicly.
A total of 29,169 children aged 9 to 16 from 19 European countries participated in the study.
The Latvian Academy of Culture emphasized that the report was prepared against the backdrop of ongoing political discussions about measures to protect children in the digital environment.
The EU Kids Online network of researchers studies the internet usage habits of children and teenagers, digital opportunities, and risks. The project involves specialists from more than 30 countries, including Latvia.
The results of the study show that simple bans are not a universal solution. Experts believe that ensuring children's safety online requires a comprehensive approach that combines digital skills training, parental support, responsible platform operations, and reasonable regulation of the online space.
