Nine out of ten Catalans support banning social networks for those under 16 years of age

BarcelonaThe intentions of the Spanish government to ban social media for under-16s have been very well received in Catalonia. 87% of Catalans - almost 9 out of 10 - endorse this as the minimum age for social media users in all EU countries, according to a survey by the Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió (CEO) and the European Parliament. The poll, published this Monday to mark 40 years since Spain's accession to the community club, indicates that only 10% of respondents are against the measure, while only 3% do not know or do not answer. Setting a minimum age limit for these platforms convinces even the youngest in the sample, as 84% of those interviewed between 18 and 24 years old are in favor.

This same age group, on the other hand, is the dissonant note in another of the survey's headlines, concerning defense spending. The poll shows that only 26% of Catalans – equivalent to one in four – advocate for an increase in defense spending, while 36% would maintain the current level and 34% would reduce it to prioritize other policies. The results, which take on special relevance in the current context of multiple wars in the world, are in line with the survey published this weekend by ARA, in which supporters of an increase in defense spending are 30% and opponents are 43%.

Among the youngest, on the other hand, support for increasing military spending rises to 39%. "They have a broader perspective over time and are more concerned about the defense risks posed by what is happening in Ukraine or what could happen in Palestine or Iran, with the presidency of Donald Trump," said the director of the CEO, Joan Rodríguez Teruel, in statements reported by the ACN. It should be taken into account that although the Spanish government rejects the US president's calls to increase the military spending percentage of allies, in practice it is setting record figures in defense.

Returning to the survey, the vast majority of Catalans (62%) consider it quite or very important for member states of the European Union to be part of NATO –32% see it as little or not important at all–, but an even larger percentage of respondents –82%– consider it necessary for the European Union to develop a common security and defense policy. In the ARA survey, 47% of respondents are against leaving NATO, an option defended by only 25%.

The pro-European sentiment, however, continues to rise, according to the CEO and Eurochamber survey. More than half of Catalans feel very (19%) or quite (39%) pro-European, a slight increase compared to the 2024 figure (from 55% to 58%). Those who feel little pro-European are 24% and those who feel not at all pro-European are 13%. It is noteworthy that pro-European sentiment is higher among the youngest (18 to 25 years) and the oldest (over 65). In both cases, the percentage of those who feel very or quite pro-European exceeds 60%.

69% of the people interviewed believe that being part of the European Union is positive, although all these figures contrast with the little or no interest in European politics of the respondents (59%), and even more so when we consider that this percentage is higher than that of those who have no interest in politics in general (44%). All this in a context where practically all Catalans believe that their voice counts little or not at all in the European Union (90%), according to the poll.

Yes to the climate objective and AI regulation

Regarding future challenges, six out of ten Catalans support maintaining the current climate objective –making Europe the first climatically neutral continent by 2050– or even advancing it; a large majority advocate for the regulation of digital platforms, especially to protect users from illegal content (92%), and 88% agree on regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI). As for community budgets, more than half of those surveyed (53%) believe that the priority should be resources to tackle the housing crisis, just ahead of those who advocate for allocations for agriculture and support for the rural world (46%).