Brussels: The European Commission on Tuesday raised alarms about the increasing risks young people face on social media as the bloc pushes forward to enhance protections for minors online. This announcement follows the conclusion of the final meeting of a special panel dedicated to child safety in the digital space.

According to Anadolu Agency, the panel, which included experts, policymakers, educators, parents' representatives, and child rights advocates, wrapped up its third and final session this week. The co-chairs of the panel are set to present their recommendations to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 13.

This initiative is part of the European Commission's broader efforts to address the impact of digital platforms on children and adolescents and to bolster the EU's regulatory framework for online safety. A new Eurobarometer survey, released alongside the meeting, illustrates the extent of youth exposure to digital platforms and the accompanying risks.

The survey reveals that adolescents in Europe spend an average of 4.5 hours online during school days and 6.1 hours on weekends. Alarmingly, about 14% of respondents report more than 10 hours of daily screen time. Nearly one in three adolescents stated that social media makes them feel stressed, sad, or excluded, while approximately 45% admitted to comparing themselves with others online. Furthermore, a quarter of the participants reported encountering problematic content, including hate speech.

The findings also show a significant correlation between early social media use and increased screen time. Those who began using platforms before the age of 10 reported 7.5 hours of screen time on weekends, whereas those who started after age 14 averaged 5.7 hours.

"When one in three young people say it leaves them feeling stressed, sad or excluded, we cannot ignore the impact on their mental health and wellbeing," said von der Leyen, emphasizing that exposure to harmful content underscores the urgency for change.