Social media continues to dominate the daily lives of young people across Europe, with new data showing just how deeply embedded these platforms have become. In 2025,

nearly nine in ten Europeans aged 16 to 29—an impressive 89.3%—reported using social networks, highlighting a stark generational divide in digital habits.

By comparison, overall social media usage across the general population stood at 67.3%, underscoring how much more engaged younger users are in the online space. This gap reflects not only differences in technology adoption but also how communication, entertainment, and information consumption have shifted toward digital-first experiences among younger generations.

The trend is widespread across the European Union. In 19 out of 27 member states, more than 90% of young people are active on social platforms. Countries such as Cyprus (98.3%), Czechia (97.2%), Denmark (96.9%), and Finland (96.6%) lead the way, approaching near-universal usage among youth. At the other end of the spectrum, Italy (80.3%), Germany (84.2%), and Luxembourg (84.8%) report comparatively lower—though still substantial—figures.

The data also reveals notable disparities between younger users and the broader population. Croatia recorded the largest gap, with social media usage among young people exceeding that of the general population by 29.2 percentage points. Austria (28.2 points) and Poland (27.2 points) followed closely behind. In contrast, countries like Denmark, Malta, and Cyprus show much smaller differences, suggesting more uniform adoption across age groups.

Across Europe, social networks remain central to how young people connect, express themselves, and stay informed. Platforms continue to evolve beyond simple communication tools, shaping everything from cultural trends to political awareness. As digital ecosystems expand, the influence of social media among Europe’s youth shows no signs of slowing down. Photo by Today Testing (For derivative), Wikimedia commons.