On Tuesday 10 February 2026, to coincide with World Safer Internet Day, the National Youth Service of Luxembourg (Service National de la Jeunesse - SNJ) published the fifth edition of the BEE SECURE Radar report, which examines current trends in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) by young people in Luxembourg.
The report, presented in the presence of Luxembourg’s Minister of National Education, Children and Youth, Claude Meisch, monitors developments in ICT use and the associated risks. It documents observations and survey results collected by the BEE SECURE initiative as part of its activities during the 2024-2025 school year and includes feedback from children, young people and parents, as well as teaching and educational staff, on various aspects of safe and responsible Internet use.
For this edition, particular attention was paid across the different surveys to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), which has become a central area of reflection and analysis in the fields of education and digital citizenship.
According to the findings, online communication is perceived as beneficial by many young people. Among seventeen- to 30-year-olds, more than half (57%) say that chatting or communicating online contributes positively to their mental well-being, while nearly half (49%) consider the use of AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, to have a positive effect on their well-being.
At the same time, a majority of young people view social media as having a negative impact on mental well-being. Some 59% of seventeen- to 30-year-olds report an unfavourable effect, despite continued high levels of use. Only 11% spend less than one hour per day on social networks, while around one third report spending four hours or more per day.
The report also highlights frequent exposure to hateful content, particularly on social media platforms. For the first time, respondents were asked about the frequency of such exposure. Among seventeen- to 30-year-olds, around four in five say they are at least occasionally confronted with hate speech targeting women, LGBTQIA+ people, as well as hatred linked to origin or religion. Around half also report encountering hateful content targeting people with disabilities. This experience is described as relatively common, especially on Instagram and TikTok, followed by Facebook and YouTube.
Chatbots have also become part of everyday life for many young people. A large majority (84%) of seventeen- to 30-year-olds use chatbots at least occasionally, and nearly one in five (19%) use them daily for one hour or more.
For some respondents, AI represents a form of presence in daily life. According to the report, 17% of seventeen- to 30-year-olds perceive AI as a friend, 20% say it helps them feel less alone, and 5% believe it can replace time spent with other people, although 76% still prefer real-life company. Just under half (45%) use AI at least occasionally to seek personal advice, while around a quarter (22%) discuss topics with it that they would not share with anyone else.
With regard to skills, one third of young people aged seventeen to 30 perceive the influence of AI on their critical and independent thinking as negative. By contrast, 16% view it as positive and 40% believe it has no particular impact. Respondents consider their critical thinking and information-search skills to be more affected by chatbot use than their social skills or empathy. While the impact on critical thinking is more often seen as negative, the effect on research skills is viewed as slightly positive, albeit to a limited extent.
The report also examines parental involvement. A majority of parents of children aged three to eleven (62%), as well as almost all parents of young people aged twelve to sixteen (97%), say they have discussed Internet-related risks with their children. However, fewer parents talk with their children about their actual online experiences, whether positive or negative. The most frequently discussed topics are misinformation and excessive screen use. Around half of pupils surveyed in primary and secondary education say they talk to their family following a negative online experience, while around one in ten say they would not talk to anyone.
In order to raise awareness among both young people and adults, the BEE SECURE initiative continues to adapt its actions and services to evolving digital challenges. As AI transforms existing practices and creates new issues, campaigns, training sessions, information events for parents, publications and other activities aim to help children and young people grow up safely in a digital environment.
In line with the Safer Internet Day slogan, “Together for a better Internet”, the BEE SECURE Radar aims to “inform all stakeholders involved in promoting safer Internet use for children and young people and to help them target their actions more effectively. Everyone can contribute to helping children and young people find their way in life and in today’s and tomorrow’s (digital) world.”
