Young Europeans Express Concerns Over Cost of Living, Climate, and Jobs
According to the latest Eurobarometer Youth Survey released on Monday, 40% of young Europeans aged 16-30 are worried about increasing prices and the cost of living. Among other key priorities, one-third of respondents believe the EU should focus on climate change and environmental protection in the next five years, while 31% consider economic growth and job creation a top concern.
Nearly 29% of respondents want the EU to prioritise social protection, welfare, and healthcare access. Additionally, 27% emphasise the importance of education and training, 23% highlight housing, and 21% believe EU defence and security should be prioritised. European defence is particularly important for young people in Czechia (36%), Poland (33%), and Estonia (32%).
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented:
“Listening to young Europeans and their concerns is essential for politicians, policymakers, and democracy. Young people today are worried about rising prices, climate change, security, and job opportunities. These concerns must be factored into every decision we make and every law we pass—otherwise, we risk losing a generation to disillusionment.”
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Social Media Overtakes TV as Primary News Source
The survey found that social media is the main source of political and social news for 42% of young people, with television ranking second at 39%. Television remains more popular among 25-30-year-olds, who also use online news platforms and radio more often than younger respondents.
16-18-year-olds are more reliant on social media (45%), compared to 39% of those aged 25-30. Younger participants also trust friends, family, and colleagues (29%) more than their older counterparts (23%).
President Metsola highlighted the implications of this shift:
“The information landscape is changing quickly. As social media becomes the primary information source for young people, politicians and online platforms must take responsibility in combating disinformation.”
TV remains the leading news source for young people in Portugal (53%), Italy (52%), Slovenia (45%), and France (43%). Online news platforms and radio serve as information sources for 26% of younger participants and 16% of older ones. In the 2021 edition of the survey, social media and news websites were the top sources, each cited by 41% of respondents.
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Instagram and TikTok Lead as Primary Social Media News Platforms
Among young people, Instagram (47%) is the most-used platform for consuming news about politics and social issues, followed by TikTok (39%). Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) is only used by 21% of respondents for news updates.
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Awareness of Disinformation Among Young People
A striking 76% of young Europeans believe they have been exposed to disinformation and fake news at some point.
In nine EU countries, over half of respondents report encountering disinformation “often” or “very often.” The highest percentages were recorded in:
– Malta (59%)
– Hungary (58%)
– Greece (57%)
– Luxembourg (55%)
– Belgium (54%)
Conversely, Romania (19%) and Bulgaria (11%) had the highest shares of young people who believe they have never been exposed to disinformation.
Despite widespread exposure, 70% of young respondents feel confident they can identify disinformation. The most confident participants were from Malta and Croatia, while those from Austria, Germany, and Slovenia were the least confident in their ability to recognize fake news.
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About the Survey
The Eurobarometer Youth Survey was conducted by Ipsos between 25 September and 3 October 2024 across all 27 EU member states. A total of 25,863 young people aged 16-30 participated in the study through online interviews. The survey results were weighted to reflect the proportion of young people in each EU country.
👉 Full survey results are available here.
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Young People Shaping the EU’s Future at EYE2025
The findings from this survey will help guide discussions during EYE2025 (European Youth Event), the Parliament’s flagship youth gathering. The event
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