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Cypriot Youth’s Priorities: Social Protection, Cost of Living, And The Role Of Social Media

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 18, 2025

A fresh Eurobarometer survey reveals what’s top of mind for young people across the EU, with a particular spotlight on Cyprus. While rising prices and climate change are EU-wide concerns, Cypriot youth demand urgent action on social protection, job creation, and tackling the cost of living.

Social Protection Takes The Lead In Cyprus

The youth in Cyprus, aged 16-30, have spoken loud and clear. They want the EU to prioritize social protection and healthcare, with 37% placing these issues at the top of the agenda. This stands in stark contrast to the broader EU focus, where 40% of young people are most concerned with the rising cost of living.

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However, Cyprus isn’t immune to these economic struggles, with 31% of young people here also highlighting rising prices and job creation as urgent matters. Environmental concerns come third, but only 24% of Cypriot youth believe it should take precedence over social issues.

Social Media Dominates News Consumption

When it comes to staying informed, traditional media takes a backseat. The study found that social media is the go-to platform for political and social news among 44% of young Cypriots, a figure higher than the EU average of 42%. In contrast, TV, which remains the second-most popular source, only reaches 27% in Cyprus.

Platforms like Instagram and YouTube are the main sources of news, with Facebook leading at 52%. TikTok also made an impact, but Twitter (now X) lags far behind, used by just 20% of Cypriot youth. This trend highlights a broader European shift, with Instagram at the forefront, followed by TikTok, especially for younger audiences.

Disinformation: A Growing Concern

While young people rely on social media, they’re also keenly aware of the disinformation risks. In Cyprus, 83% of respondents say they’ve encountered fake news recently, far higher than the 76% EU-wide. Yet, they’re confident in their ability to spot it, with 85% of Cypriots believing they can detect disinformation—a sharp contrast to the 70% in the EU.

The Numbers Behind The Survey

Conducted between 25 September and 3 October 2024, the survey reached 25,863 youth across the EU, with 514 participants from Cyprus. Results were weighted to reflect the demographic breakdown of each country.

As Europe faces mounting challenges, it’s clear that Cypriot youth are looking for solutions that go beyond environmental policies—they’re seeking real, immediate change in social services, economic stability, and information transparency. The spotlight is on EU leaders to heed their voices and take action.

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Cyprus To Add 125MW Of Battery Storage Before Summer 2027

Electricity storage batteries are expected to arrive in Cyprus in January 2027, with installation scheduled to be completed before next summer’s peak demand season, Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Sunday.

Storage Capacity Set To Expand Grid Flexibility

Damianos said contracts have already been signed with the supplier and the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for the battery storage project.

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Once operational, the facilities will add 125 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity to the national grid, allowing more renewable electricity to be stored instead of being curtailed during periods of excess generation. The minister said the system is expected to be operational before the summer of 2027.

Addressing Evening Demand

Cyprus currently has just over 1,000MW of conventional electricity generation, which Damianos said is generally sufficient during daytime hours. Demand becomes more challenging after sunset, when solar generation falls while electricity consumption, driven largely by air-conditioning, remains high.

He said battery storage will allow electricity generated during the day to be used during the evening peak.

Additional Projects Under Development

Damianos said approvals have also been granted for 150MW of privately owned battery storage projects, which are expected to become operational during 2027.

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is developing an additional 180MW of storage capacity. Two projects, with capacities of 80MW and 100MW, are expected to be completed before next summer.

According to the minister, several hundred megawatts of battery storage capacity are expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2027.

Power Supply Before The Batteries Arrive

Asked how electricity demand would be managed before the storage projects are completed, Damianos said the Transmission System Operator considers the system capable of meeting demand under normal operating conditions.

He said last week’s power supply disruptions were caused by a fault at one of the EAC’s generators and that both the utility and the TSO are working to maintain system reliability with the existing generation capacity.

Damianos added that, provided there are no unexpected outages, the electricity system is expected to remain stable, with the period immediately after sunset continuing to pose the greatest challenge.