To better understand what teens really think of tech, we collaborated with youth study experts at Livity, an agency that raises young voices to produce “Future Report: A Project Consulting 7,000 Young People aged 13-18 throughout Europe.” The final report – which will include new statistics on AI and learning – will be published in September.
Today we share three highlights from teenagers’ statements about well -being and online security.
1. Teens find balance and ask for support
As the school holidays begin and teens have more free time, the study showed that teens want to balance their time and offline. Teenagers were aware of the impact of too much screen time on their mental and emotional health:
- 57% say they have found a balanced relationship between online and offline life.
- 80% feel they manage their digital habits well – especially with what and who they share content with online.
The study also revealed that they use simple but effective strategies to balance online and offline time and manage their mental health and happiness:
- 43% say they spend more time with family and friends
- 31% say they focus on offline hobbies.
- 30% Report Exercise.
- And 25% say they set their own time limits.
It is important that three out of four teens are already using tech to support their mental and physical well -being – from sleep tracking to mindfulness and fitness apps. At the same time, they want platforms to support this well-being proactively with built-in controls, such as YouTube’s “Take a Break” reminders to Teen Accounts or Family Links School Time and Bedtime Settings. “I go out to be with friends, spend time, joke around and play together, not to sit on a bench and start rolling our phones,” reported 15-year-old Anita from Italy in the study.
2. The teens trust in parental advice and also need proactive support
Despite being digital natives, teens still turn to parents and guardians only when facing challenges online:
- 68% would go to a parent about fraud or fraud.
- 63% would go to a parent about cyber bullying or harassment.
- 58% would go to a parent about unpleasant online interactions.
- 57% would go to a parent about confidentiality settings and security concerns.
Most of the teens report that their parents use tools such as screen time checks, app settings or account monitoringAt But only 31% felt that their parents understood online information well. There are resources for this kind of help, just as our various tools specifically for families. There are also Google’s Meet Leo Training Program that provides carers and teachers throughout Europe knowledge and confidence to support digital well -being at home and in schools. “
3. Teens need tools, trust and two -way conversations
The study showed us that the tea -well online is not just about screen time. It’s about:
- Giving young tools they can trust;
- Allow them to make informed choices;
- Support parents and educators with user -friendly controls;
- And most of all, listening to what teens say they need.
As 17-year-old Szymon from Poland expressed it, “Online gives me a voice, offline gives me a purpose.” The Internet will continue to develop, so we continue to learn, listen and build age-passing tools that help young people feel safe, seen and supported online. Come back later in the year when we share the final results of the report.