[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 4 sources · 4 days · First seen · Last updated

Digital usage and connectivity trends in Portugal

Overview

In Portugal, social media usage has increased, with average daily time spent rising from 84 minutes in 2025 to 105 minutes in 2026. Among users aged 15 to 24, daily platform usage has reached 2.5 hours. Despite high daily access rates, a trend of platform abandonment has emerged, with 24.3% of all users and 40% of young users reporting leaving at least one platform in the last year due to lack of interest.

Simultaneously, mobile data consumption has surged, with the average user consuming 18.5GB per month in the first quarter of 2026, representing a nearly one-third increase from the previous year. While total mobile data traffic grew by 39%, voice calls and SMS usage declined by approximately 20%. This shift has prompted debates over whether mobile data should be treated as essential infrastructure to promote digital inclusion rather than being sold as rationed packages.

Entities

ANACOM · Wikimedia Brasil · Érica Azzellini · Goethe-Institut São Paulo · Brazilian Internet Steering Committee

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Mobile data consumption in Portugal shifts toward essential infrastructure

    Mobile data traffic in Portugal grew by 39% in Q1, with average monthly usage reaching 18.5GB per user, signaling a shift toward data being viewed as essential digital infrastructure.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Internet usage trends and governance discussions in Portugal and Brazil

    Social media usage in Portugal has risen to an average of 105 minutes daily, while experts in Brazil met to discuss internet governance and digital rights.

Sources

briefing.pt · dinheirovivo.pt · sapo.pt · techblog.wikimedia.org