A new survey across Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland shows that nearly half of Europeans would support banning social media platform X from the European Union if it continues to break EU rules. Conducted by YouGov, the polling highlights rising frustration among EU citizens over what they perceive as the platform’s failure to comply with European digital regulations.

The survey found that between 60 and 78 percent of respondents in each country believe the EU should take stronger action against X if it does not address breaches identified by the European Commission last year. Of those in favour of further measures, a majority—ranging from 62 to 73 percent—said the platform should be banned if it refuses to comply. Overall, 47 percent of respondents backed a potential ban.

The European Commission fined X €120 million in December under the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to meet transparency obligations. Central to the investigation is the blue checkmark system, previously free to verify official accounts but now sold for €7 a month, which could mislead users about account authenticity. The Commission also found the platform did not meet transparency requirements for advertising, raising concerns that users could be exposed to financial scams. X has 90 working days to respond to the Commission’s findings.

Since the fine, the platform and its built-in AI assistant, Grok, have faced additional scrutiny. Critics argue that X amplifies harmful content, including deepfake pornography and child sexual abuse material. French prosecutors recently raided X’s Paris office as part of an ongoing investigation into child abuse content.

The YouGov survey indicates strong public support for tougher enforcement against large tech platforms. If X fails to comply with the Commission’s ruling, 70 percent of respondents said they would support consequences. Among these, 17 to 28 percent favoured further fines, 23 to 29 percent supported banning the platform outright, and the largest group—40 to 52 percent—wanted a combination of fines and a ban.

Ava Lee, executive director of People vs Big Tech, said the data shows Europeans are “done with empty warnings.” She added that X could set a precedent for how the EU enforces its rules on major technology companies.

Despite public support for tougher measures, banning a major social media platform would be considered an extreme step under EU law. The Commission has not indicated that it is currently considering such a move.

The survey comes amid wider debates in Europe over social media regulation. Several countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom, are considering restrictions or outright bans on social media for minors, citing concerns over illegal or harmful content. Australia has already implemented strict rules for users under 16, but experts caution that enforcement challenges mean it is too early to judge the effectiveness of such bans.

Professor Kathryn Modecki from the University of Western Australia noted that many children continue to access banned apps through simple workarounds, suggesting policymakers should monitor results carefully before expanding similar restrictions elsewhere.

Europe’s app market in 2025 reveals a clear gap between what users download and what generates the most revenue. While utility, shopping, and AI apps lead in downloads, entertainment, subscription, and dating apps dominate earnings.

According to estimates from AppFigures shared with Euronews Next, the most downloaded app in the EU last year was ChatGPT, with just over 64 million downloads. It was followed by shopping platform Temu with nearly 44 million. Downloads for other top apps drop to around 27 million, including Threads (27.3 million), TikTok (26.8 million), CapCut (25.5 million), and Google Gemini (25.2 million). Rounding out the top ten were WhatsApp Messenger, Revolut, Vinted, and Lidl Plus, each exceeding 22 million downloads.

Productivity apps emerged as a major category, driven largely by artificial intelligence. ChatGPT and Google Gemini signal AI tools moving from niche use to mainstream adoption, as Europeans increasingly rely on AI for work, study, and personal tasks. Shopping apps also featured prominently, with Temu, SHEIN, Vinted, Lidl Plus, and Klarna ranking high. Photo and video apps reflect the rising importance of content creation for social media and small businesses.

Despite dominating downloads, these apps do not always generate the highest revenue. AppFigures data show that TikTok earned an estimated €740 million in Europe, making it the top-grossing app, even though it ranked fourth in downloads. ChatGPT followed with €448 million, demonstrating that AI subscriptions are converting users into paying customers.

Dating apps also ranked high by revenue despite not appearing among the top downloads. Tinder generated €429 million, while Bumble and Badoo recorded €125 million and €81 million, respectively. Streaming services such as Disney+ (€351 million), Amazon Prime Video (€323 million), Google One (€283 million), and YouTube (€243 million) highlight the continued strength of subscription-based digital content.

“The drivers behind spending in top-earning EU apps show a more diverse mix than several years ago, when most spending outside of mobile games went to entertainment and dating apps, such as Disney+, Spotify, Tinder, and Hulu,” Randy Nelson, head of market insights at AppFigures, told Euronews Next.

App rankings also vary significantly by country. In the UK, domestic finance and government services are popular, with GOV.UK ID Check and HMRC among the most downloaded apps. Local retail and finance platforms such as Monzo and Tesco also rank highly. In Turkey, state-backed digital services like e-Devlet Kapısı and e-Nabız, alongside local e-commerce platforms Trendyol and sahibinden, dominate downloads, reflecting a preference for national platforms over cross-border alternatives.

Revenue estimates focus on in-app spending, including subscriptions and digital content, and do not account for physical goods or services. These figures also exclude the roughly 30 percent platform fee taken by Apple and Google, meaning actual developer earnings are lower than the reported totals.

The data underline the evolving European app market, where popularity does not always translate into revenue, and local preferences shape user behaviour in individual countries.

On February 4, the European Commission concluded its public consultation on the Better Regulation framework, seeking feedback on how the initiative could be improved. Among the 286 respondents, representing industry, consumer groups, public sector organizations, and transparency advocates, the majority urged the Commission to maintain robust impact assessments and consultation tools rather than weakening them.

The feedback comes as the EU seeks to speed up decision-making while maintaining transparency and stakeholder engagement. Responses ranged from detailed proposals to ensure focused stakeholder involvement to criticisms of the Commission’s Omnibus approach to legislation.

In its response, Consumer Choice Center Europe (CCCE) suggested that the Commission take stronger action to prevent the overuse of exemptions from Better Regulation guidelines. “Nothing motivates Europeans more than fact-based evidence,” the organization said, calling for disclosure of all exemptions requested since 2021. Current rules allow exemptions for political imperatives, emergencies, or deadlines, but critics warn that such flexibility fosters a culture of loophole-seeking.

Another concern raised during the consultation is the structure of public consultations. Critics note that some surveys, such as those for the Digital Fairness Act, provide detailed answer options for supporters of proposals while offering limited space for opponents to explain their views. Respondents called for more rigorous methodological standards to ensure all stakeholders can express their opinions equally.

The consultation also highlighted the need for faster, clearer feedback. The CCCE recommended that statistical summaries on the “Have Your Say” portal include information on whether respondents support, oppose, or remain neutral on proposals. Currently, summaries are released up to two months after consultations, and critics warn that results can be framed subjectively. Shorter, more readable synopses of the most common arguments, emailed to participants, could increase transparency and trust.

Transparency was another central theme. Respondents suggested that the Commission publish factual summaries not only for formal public consultations but also for targeted consultations and stakeholder meetings. While current guidelines recommend this as “good practice,” advocates argue it should be mandatory to prevent decision-making behind closed doors.

The consultation responses signal a clear message from the European public: while the EU seeks efficiency in legislative processes, citizens and organizations want consultative mechanisms and impact assessments to remain strong and accessible.

The Commission now faces the challenge of balancing faster policy adoption with transparency and accountability, ensuring that citizens can continue to engage meaningfully in shaping EU law.