Spain Survey: Not a ban,
but better solutions.
On 1 June, ThinkYoung presented the results of its latest research on Parental Approval & Digital Experiences in Madrid, Spain.
The event was hosted at the Camilo José Cela University with the support of our local partners, Fundación Fad Juventud and SEK Education Group.
The conversation, moderated by Nora Kurtin, CEO and founder of Sapos y Princesas, brought together parents, young people, experts, policymakers, digital safety advocates and industry representatives to discuss youth digital safety and wellbeing.
As European policymakers step up discussions on protecting young people online, our new survey shows that most parents and guardians (58.22%) in Spain think under 16 is the right age for app approval, with 37.92% preferring a parent-approval solution over a complete ban (29.99%) or limits (24.45%).
Conducted in Spain and across Europe, this survey seeks to inform public debate through nuanced, evidence-based insights that reflect the experiences of parents and guardians across the continent.
Across key measures, parents and guardians are consistent: they want agency and to be in the driving seat when it comes to their teens’ digital safety and wellbeing.
Read the full results here (EN, ES) and explore more findings in our Survey section.
“For me, online safety means being able to express yourself freely in whatever way feels right to you. Ultimately, it means having the freedom to be yourself online and feeling confident that no one will judge you for it.” says Verónica, Youth Representative from Cibercorresponsales.
“If I could change one thing about social media and the internet, it would be for people to stop normalising hate. I think this is something we can all work on together, because hate can affect many people whether mentally or in other areas of their lives.” says Bella, Youth Representative from Cibercorresponsales.
“I believe the most important recommendation for parents is to do their best to understand how the digital world works. We are digital citizens of this world too, and the more we learn, the better equipped we are to help young people navigate its challenges, dangers, risks and opportunities” argues María Zabala, Coordinator for Digital Education & Citizenship at Fad Juventud. “Protection goes hand in hand with our own digital literacy and willingness to keep learning.” adds María.
About the survey
The survey was conducted by ThinkYoung in 2026 using an online questionnaire distributed via polling software. It was funded by Meta. The study explores parental perspectives on app use, screen time, social media safety, and age-appropriate digital experiences. A total of 1,361 parents participated in the survey in Spain between 10 April and 10 May.
This research is part of a multi-year collaboration between ThinkYoung and Meta, to enable and support a network of researchers, academics, parents, teenagers, and creators, all working to build a better and safer digital future for young people.
ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit organisation, aiming to make the world a better place for young people by involving them in decision-making processes and providing decision-makers with high-quality research on youth conditions. ThinkYoung conducts studies and surveys, makes advocacy campaigns, writes policy proposals, and develops education programmes: up to date, ThinkYoung projects have reached over 800,000 young people.
Meta is a tech company with apps that you may know, like Instagram or WhatsApp. We work hard to build online spaces where young people can learn, connect, create, and have fun. We want young people to enjoy our platforms and to be safe, so creating spaces for young people to have their say on the future of platforms like ours is crucial.
