Adolescents in Portugal are spending more of their waking hours online, with social media taking up an ever-larger share of their digital lives, according to a new study by the Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD). The research, conducted among young people taking part in National Defence Day 2025, offers a snapshot of how 18-year-olds navigate a world where the physical and virtual are increasingly intertwined.
The survey found that 60% of respondents use the internet for an average of four or more hours a day, and the share reporting intensive use—five hours or more—has risen compared with previous years. While such figures might alarm parents and policymakers, the study's authors caution against jumping to conclusions. "In itself, this indicator is not synonymous with problems; it simply reflects a life lived in both physical and virtual modes, often intertwined, with new ways of behaving, acting and being," they write.
Social media dominates, but not all-consuming
Social networks are the most popular online activity, with the mobile phone as the preferred access device. However, the majority of respondents—almost 45%—say they spend around two to three hours daily on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. A smaller but notable 13% admit to spending six or more hours on social media each day.
Beyond social platforms, online searches for reading or studying, gaming (including betting), and watching films, videos and tutorials also contribute to the growing time spent online. The study also highlights a striking generational shift: in 2025, 99% of those surveyed said they first used the internet before age 16, and 39% began before age 10—a proportion that has been steadily rising, and slightly more so among girls than boys.
Gender differences emerge in how young people use the internet. Girls tend to spend more time on social media or searching online, while boys lean toward gaming. When it comes to online gambling with real money, the figures are stark: 17% of 18-year-olds—30% of boys and 5% of girls—place bets online.
Problems linked to heavy use
Excessive internet use is associated with a range of issues, particularly among adolescents. The ICAD study asked respondents whether they had experienced any of seven problems in the past 12 months: poor performance at school or work; health problems requiring medical care; behavioural issues at home; financial difficulties; acts of violence or disorderly conduct; unprotected sexual relations; and episodes of emotional distress.
Overall, 35% of young people reported experiencing at least one of these problems. The most common was emotional distress—lack of motivation, sadness, dissatisfaction, loneliness, anxiety—cited by 20%, followed by poorer performance at school or work (17%).
The findings feed into a broader European conversation about young people's digital habits. A World Health Organization report published last year identified the dominance of the digital world as a key driver of loneliness among young people globally. Excessive screen time has been linked to reduced physical activity, poorer sleep, and higher rates of anxiety, depression and social isolation.
Across Europe, governments are grappling with how to respond. The United Kingdom's plans to bar teenagers from social networks have reignited debate, with France, Spain, Austria, Greece and Denmark all discussing measures to restrict minors' access. Concerns range from cyberbullying and the addictive design of platforms to tragic cases of suicide and self-harm.
As the EU considers its own regulatory approaches, the ICAD study offers a timely reminder that the digital world is now a permanent fixture in young Europeans' lives—for better and for worse. The challenge for policymakers is to mitigate the harms without cutting off the benefits of connectivity.
