Experts call on Dutch government to set age limit for smartphone and social media usage

A group of over 1,400 experts has called on the government of the Netherlands to implement a minimum age for the use of smartphones and social media.

Over 1,400 doctors, psychiatrists, general practitioners, pediatricians, educational psychologists, and other healthcare professionals are insisting that the Dutch government takes action against the growing health and well-being crisis that’s being caused by excessive and age-inappropriate screen and social media use among children and young people.

“Given the intensive use of smartphones and social media among children and adolescents, the demonstrable physical health effects, the indications of mental damage, and the lack of guarantee of a structurally safe and suitable digital environment, it is time to revise the societal starting point,” the group says in an open letter addressed to Dutch government.

The experts are asking Prime Minister Dick Schoof to implement legislation that sets a minimum age for the use of smartphones and social media. Smartphones should be allowed from the age of 14, and social media from the age of 16.

The Prime Minister hasn’t responded to the request of the signatories.

Last March, a majority of the House of Representatives said it felt that there should be a minimum age for the use of social media to protect the mental and physical health of young children.

“Young people are shown images that are completely unsuitable for them and end up in a trap they can’t get out of,” Member of Parliament Hanneke van der Werf (D66) said at the time.

The parliament suggested a minimum age of 15 years. How and by whom this should be enforced isn’t clear.

Recently, some member states of the European Union called for a new set of rules to curb children’s use of social media.

To combat addictive designs and limit the screen time on social media, Spain, Greece, and France propose to introduce mandatory and built-in age verification solutions and parental control software to all devices with internet access in the EU. In addition, they opted for a minimum age for access to online social networks and age-appropriate designs to minimize addiction.

“Poorly designed digital products and services can lead to heightened anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues as minors are constantly exposed to trivial or comparative contents, while excessive screen time can limit the development of critical skills, alter cognitive capacities, weaken human relationships, and diminish the ability to collaborate effectively,” the member states said.

In 2023, France passed measures to block access to social media for children under 15, although these are yet to be fully implemented. In 2024, Australia passed a bill banning the use of social media under the age of 16.