Portugal youth face rising online hate speech risks

A report titled ‘Novos usos, novos riscos? Direitos digitais de crianças e jovens (9-17 anos)’ reveals that 52% of Portuguese children and youth have encountered online hate speech at least once in the past year. The prevalence of such content increases significantly with age, rising to 72% among adolescents aged 16 to 17.

The hate speech identified includes hostile messages targeting individuals or social groups based on gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or disability. The study, part of the EU Kids Online 2025 project, also highlights exposure to other digital risks, including conspiracy theories, adult pornography, violent imagery, dangerous challenges, drug-related content, and messages regarding self-harm. Approximately 37% of respondents reported exposure to conspiracy theories, a figure that rises to 47% among those aged 16 to 17.

Additionally, the report notes that 63% of youth aged 15 to 17 have used generative Artificial Intelligence for school purposes, while 40% of young people reported that their educational institutions do not have rules prohibiting mobile phone use.