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.<\/b><\/p>\n
By Krzysztof Ryncarz (EURACTIV.pl) \/ translated PL-ENG by Aleksandra Krzysztoszek\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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%).<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Social media the primary news source for young Europeans <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Young Europeans Support the EU but Are Critical of Its Functioning <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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