On 9 March 2026, Minister of Education and Youth Claude Meisch, together with Professor Dr Robin Samuel from the University of Luxembourg, presented the fourth national youth report. Entitled Living and Growing Up in Online and Offline Worlds, the report sheds light on the everyday reality of young people aged 12 to 29 in Luxembourg and provides an important foundation for a modern and responsible youth policy.
The digital world is part of young people’s everyday lives. 68.5% of them use social media on at least 20 days per month, and 80% spend at least two hours online every day. This naturally has a direct impact on school, family life, leisure time and social relationships.
For the Democratic Party, it is clear that politics must respond to these developments. The youth report confirms that Claude Meisch’s measures to promote a healthy screen-life balance at school are right and necessary. Restrictions on smartphone use and targeted awareness-raising are one piece of the puzzle in helping young people manage digital media more responsibly and in strengthening their mental well-being.
At the same time, the report shows that direct personal contact also needs to be encouraged again. Only around 13% of young people see their friends on at least 20 days per month. Well-being has also declined since 2019, while worries have clearly increased. The greatest fear is that of a war in Europe (80.6%). Environmental pollution (77.3%) and climate change (74.5%) are also major concerns for young people.
This is exactly where a forward-looking youth policy comes in: young people need not only rules, but also prospects, trust and concrete opportunities to develop their potential. With initiatives such as Less Screen – More Movement, Discovery and Experience or MoVe from the SNJ, policy is focusing on guidance, prevention and a strong range of activities for young people.
The youth report forms the basis for the new Youth Pact — a national action plan — to be developed by the end of 2026. Stakeholders from the youth sector and other relevant bodies will also be involved in drawing it up.
