Rising living costs, climate change, and job opportunities are the top concerns for young Europeans, according to a new Eurobarometer survey. The poll, released Monday, also found that social media is their primary news source, with Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube leading the way.
By Krzysztof Ryncarz (EURACTIV.pl) / translated PL-ENG by Aleksandra Krzysztoszek
On Monday (February 17), Eurobarometer published the results of a survey asking Europeans aged 16-30 about their main concerns, access to information and disinformation.
According to the survey, 40% of young Europeans believe that tackling the rising cost of living should be the EU’s top priority over the next five years. Meanwhile, 33% said tackling climate change should be a priority, while 31% pointed to economic conditions and job creation.
According to the survey, 40% of young Europeans believe that tackling the rising cost of living should be the EU’s top priority over the next five years. Meanwhile, 33% said tackling climate change should be a priority, while 31% pointed to economic conditions and job creation.
Other key issues that young people want the EU to address include social protection, health and welfare (29%), education (27%), housing (23%) and defense and security (21%).
“Listening to young Europeans and their concerns is vital for politicians, policy-makers and European democracy. Young people today are worried about rising prices, climate change, security and their chances of finding a good job,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented on the results of the survey.
“These are concerns that we must address in every decision we take and every law that we pass. Otherwise, we risk losing a generation to disillusionment,” she added.
Young Europeans were also asked about their sources of information. The survey found that social media is the most popular source of news, cited by 42% of respondents. Among specific platforms, Instagram was the most used (47%), followed by TikTok (39%) and YouTube (37%). Facebook (27%) and X (21%) were slightly less popular.
Television remains an important source of information for 39% of young people, while 26% rely on news websites. In addition, 25% consider conversations with family and friends as their main source and 23% get their news from video streaming platforms.
At the same time, most young Europeans (76%) are aware of their exposure to disinformation. The highest rates of reported exposure to disinformation were found in Malta (59%), Hungary (58%), Greece (57%), Luxembourg (55%) and Belgium (54%). The lowest rates were in Romania (19%) and Bulgaria (11%), where most respondents said they had never encountered disinformation.
Despite these risks, young Europeans largely believe they can spot false information – 70% say they can recognize disinformation when they see it. Confidence in this ability was highest among respondents from Malta and Croatia, while Austrians, Germans and Slovenians were less sure.
The survey also revealed that while young Europeans generally support the European Union, many are dissatisfied with how it currently operates. This view was expressed by 32% of respondents. Meanwhile, 31% of young Europeans said they support both the EU and its current way of functioning.
On the other hand, 21% of young Europeans expressed skepticism about the EU. A smaller proportion – 6% of respondents in the EU as a whole and 7% in Poland – said they were completely opposed to the Union.
Do you have anything to add to this story? Any ideas for interviews or angles we should explore? Let us know if you’d like to write a follow-up, a counterpoint, or share a similar story.