European youth face misinformation and distrust, demanding better EU engagement and addressing cost of living crises.
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The European Union faces multiple crises, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza, rearmament efforts, political and economic issues in France and Germany, social problems like housing and rising costs, and the rise of far-right groups. A significant underlying threat is misinformation, with a 2025 Eurobarometer flash survey showing that 76% of young Europeans have been exposed to deliberate disinformation and fake news. Greece shows particularly high levels of exposure (83%) and low trust in general news sources (only 22% trust any source). Young Greeks show low trust in state institutions, preferring the military and police over national government or media. While most young people support the EU, many are dissatisfied with its functioning. Key demands from young Greeks include addressing high living costs (42%) and creating jobs (43%). Nearly half of young Greeks get their news from social media platforms like Instagram (52%), TikTok (41%), and YouTube (31%), highlighting a challenge for traditional media. Experts note that misinformation is not solely driven by social media but also stems from low institutional trust, sometimes originating from governments or mainstream media. To combat this, there is a call for traditional media to modernize and create accessible content, with examples like fyi.news in Greece and Scomodo in Italy. Furthermore, the media must actively cover the EU to counter Euroscepticism, as current coverage of European issues by Greek media is lacking. Ultimately, while some young people are negative about the EU, most want it to function better and more democratically.
