The Dutch government has issued a warning to parents on Tuesday (June 17) that there is a high risk of social media addiction. They advised against allowing children under the age of 15 to use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The government pointed out that there have been cases of children experiencing anxiety, depression, and sleep difficulties due to their use of social media.
Due to the high risk of addiction, the Dutch Ministry of Health encourages parents to manage their children’s screen time, avoid bringing phones and laptops into the bedroom, and recommends a routine of “20 minutes of screen time followed by 2 hours of outdoor activities” to promote healthier lifestyles.
Vincent Karremans, the Dutch Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, suggested in a letter to the parliament that children should have more time to learn how to deal with internet pressures, protect themselves, and improve their ability to judge media content.
Currently, both TikTok and Instagram have age restrictions that require users to be at least 13 years old to register and use the platforms. This age restriction coincides with when most Dutch children begin secondary school.
Although the guidelines released by the Dutch government regarding children’s use of digital platforms do not have legal enforcement, they make a distinct classification of two types of digital platforms.