The President’s Youth Advisory Board kicks off!

Last updated on Wednesday, 03/12/2025

The first meeting of the President’s Youth Advisory Board took place on 3 December 2025 in Brussels and focused on the debate around social media and young people. This Board aims to offer a stronger youth perspective in policymaking.

Around one in three internet users is a child, and children are accessing the online world at increasingly younger ages. Across the EU, 83% of 16–29-year-olds use social media daily. While social media brings opportunities to connect, participate and learn, many young people struggle with excessive screen time and addictive behaviours. In this context, President von der Leyen announced during her State of the Union address that she will commission a panel of experts to look into and make recommendations on the way forward for Europe. 

During the first meeting of the Board, members and observers shared their view on: 

• how young people use social media and evolving trends;
• the positive aspects and wide range of opportunities provided by social media;
• the negative aspects of social media, potential risks and harmful effects, including on mental health;
• the digital majority age.

Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and check out the President’s Youth Advisory Board page on our Portal to learn about the main takeaways of the discussion.