Is Europe chronically online? These are the countries that spend most time on the internet

Millions of people spend most of their time online, new global data suggests.

In a survey spanning 24 countries – including 10 in Europe – a median of 28 per cent of people say they use the internet almost constantly.

The findings come amid increased concern over screen addiction, with studies finding that excessive screen time can raise the risk of emotional and behavioural problems in children.

The shares of near-constant time online were highest in Japan (56 per cent) and South Korea (49 per cent) and lowest in Nigeria (13 per cent) and Greece (14 per cent), according to the survey from the US-based Pew Research Center, which ran earlier this year.

In Europe, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Italy were the top countries for “constant” time spent online, the report found. While internet access varies across Europe, more than 90 per cent of the population in these five countries have broadband at home according to data from the European Union and UK.

Hungary landed on the other side of the spectrum, with 12 per cent of respondents saying they do not use the internet at all – higher than any of the other European countries surveyed.

However, that is fairly low compared to countries elsewhere in the world. In Kenya and India, for example, a respective 33 per cent and 36 per cent of respondents said they do not use the internet regularly. 

Pew also reported that in every country, younger adults tend to have higher rates of internet and social media usage – and that they tend to be almost always online.

European policymakers have taken note. In a recent speech, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen highlighted the potential harms of social media for young people, comparing its dangers to alcohol and drugs.

"Just as in my days we as a society taught our children that they could not smoke, drink, and watch adult content until a certain age, I believe it is time we consider doing the same for social media," she said in a speech at the European Parliament on 13 September. 

Policymakers in several European countries have proposed several measures, including regulations on major tech platforms to promote a safer online atmosphere and calls to restrict social media and smartphones in schools.

Globally, dozens of school systems had banned smartphones in schools by the end of 2024, according to a report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).