What does the 2026 EU Kids Online survey reveal about children’s daily internet use?
The 2026 edition of the EU Kids Online survey, coordinated by the University of Oslo and involving researchers from the London School of Economics, the University of Ljubljana, Catholic University Sacro Cuore and the University of Akureyri, collected responses from 28,465 children in 19 countries. Smartphones are the main device: 87% of respondents connect to the internet daily via mobile phone. Girls report slightly higher frequent use than boys (61% versus 55%). The study shows smartphones have become central to children’s everyday lives, with digital experiences evolving faster than policies can track. Access patterns differ by gender and country, yet the overall picture is one of near-universal daily mobile connectivity. Researchers note that these habits bring both social and informational benefits, making it essential to improve online safety rather than simply restrict use. The 19 participating countries span northern, southern, eastern and western Europe, underscoring that daily smartphone access is now the norm rather than the exception for this age group. The survey highlights that policy must keep pace with rapid adoption rather than assume uniform conditions across Europe.
How have children’s feelings of safety online changed since 2020?
The proportion of children who felt upset by something online in the previous month increased from 7% in 2020 to 23% in 2026. Only 48% now report feeling safe online, compared with 65% who said they felt always or often safe four years earlier. Parent-child conversations about online activities also declined, with only 50% of children saying their parents discuss what they do online, down from 66%. Co-author Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics observes that parents now rely more on technical controls than on talking with children. The drop in dialogue coincides with rising distress, suggesting that reduced conversation may leave children less equipped to handle difficult experiences. The survey leaves open how much of the increase in upset stems from new risks versus greater willingness to report problems. Livingstone stresses that children continue to gain social and informational benefits from internet use, so the priority remains improving safety rather than limiting access. These shifts indicate that technical controls alone have not compensated for weaker direct engagement between parents and children.
What are the main concerns children express about artificial intelligence?
Two-thirds of children have used AI tools at least once in the past month. While 37% hope AI will boost human creativity and one-third expect it to reduce time spent on boring tasks, 41% worry about its environmental footprint and 40% fear AI could surpass human intelligence and escape control. Country differences are marked: environmental concerns reach 57% in Ireland but fall to 31% in Finland and Switzerland; loss-of-control fears peak at 55% in Ireland and drop to 28% in Belgium. Many children see value in AI for learning and efficiency, yet the same respondents express unease about resource consumption and long-term autonomy. The data show that hopes and fears coexist rather than cancel each other out. Policymakers are urged to minimise environmental costs and maintain human oversight of algorithmic systems, though the survey does not specify which oversight mechanisms children would accept. The wide national spread indicates that local context shapes how strongly children weigh these trade-offs.
How do children view data privacy and company practices?
Half of respondents worry that their personal data are used for targeted advertising. Four in ten fear companies share data with third parties without consent. Thirty-nine percent do not believe companies keep their online behaviour secure, and 54% disagree that it is acceptable for companies to track their activities. More than one-quarter are concerned that data collected by apps could influence police decisions on whom to search or arrest. Only one in five supports the use of algorithms to predict school admissions or future job prospects. Children therefore display broad scepticism toward both commercial and institutional uses of their information. The findings indicate that current consent and transparency practices fall short of what many young users consider fair. The report leaves unsettled whether stronger age-appropriate explanations or different default settings would reduce these worries. The pattern of distrust extends from advertising to law-enforcement applications, revealing a consistent preference for greater control over personal information.
What forms of harmful content do children encounter most often?
Thirty percent of children receive hate speech messages at least monthly, with rates ranging from 15% in Ireland to 40% in Serbia. Girls report higher exposure overall. Images of blood or violence are the most frequently cited harmful category (40%), followed by content promoting thinness (39%) and self-harm (37%). Content about suicide is reported by 25%. Fifteen percent see self-harm material monthly and another 24% have seen it occasionally. Exposure to hate speech and violent imagery forms a consistent backdrop to children’s online lives, varying sharply by country. Girls’ higher reported contact with hate messages points to gendered patterns that platforms and educators may need to address separately. The survey records prevalence but does not measure the duration or intensity of distress caused by each category. National differences in hate-speech exposure highlight that uniform European policies may overlook local realities in how often children meet harmful material.
Frequently asked questions
How many children were surveyed in the 2026 EU Kids Online study?
Researchers surveyed 28,465 children aged 10 to 16 in 19 European countries.
Has the share of children feeling safe online increased or decreased since 2020?
The share fell from 65% in 2020 to 48% in 2026.
What percentage of children have used AI tools recently?
Approximately two-thirds used AI tools at least once in the month before the survey.
Which country shows the highest concern about AI’s environmental impact?
Ireland records the highest level at 57%, while Finland and Switzerland record the lowest at 31%.
Do girls or boys report more exposure to hate speech?
Girls report higher exposure: 60% of girls compared with 55% of boys across the surveyed countries.
