Connected Childhood: The State of Digital Wellbeing and Resilience for Children and Young People in Europe (2026)

Connected Childhood: The State of Digital Wellbeing and Resilience for Children and Young People in Europe presents findings from the Digital Wellbeing and Resilience Index, a new research tool designed to measure multiple dimensions of children’s digital wellbeing, including security, digital literacy, management, identity and empathy. Based on a survey of more than 7,700 young people aged 13-18 across Albania, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom, the Index offers a comprehensive picture of how children experience and navigate the digital world. While the report reveals significant challenges around stress, sleep disruption and maintaining a healthy digital balance, it also highlights strong digital safety knowledge and positive online social connections. Through a child rights and public health lens, the report provides evidence and practical recommendations to build safer, more inclusive and wellbeing-focused digital environments where all children can thrive. The research was conducted by Ipsos as part of a wider partnership between Save the Children UK and Vodafone Foundation that aims to strengthen children’s digital wellbeing and resilience.