Portugal Study Finds 60% of 18-Year-Olds Spend 4+ Hours Online Daily

2 articles · Updated · Euronews · Aug 14

60% of Portuguese 18-year-olds use the internet for four or more hours a day, with intensive use of five-plus hours rising, an ICAD study of 2025 National Defence Day participants found.
45% spend two to three hours on social media, while 13% spend six or more hours; mobile phones are the main access point, and social platforms lead online activity.
99% said they started using the internet before age 16 and 39% before age 10, showing digital exposure is beginning earlier; the increase is slightly stronger among young women.
17% place bets online—30% of young men and 5% of young women—and 35% reported at least one problem in the previous year, most often emotional distress at 20% and poorer school or work performance at 17%.
The findings feed a wider European debate over restricting minors' social media access, as governments weigh concerns about loneliness, anxiety, sleep, physical activity and addictive platform design.