The Netherlands is pushing for age limits on social media: Here’s why

Protecting children's mental health

After discussions on an age limit for social media first sparked in January 2025, the Dutch House of Representatives is one step closer to making this a reality.

A narrow majority of the House now agrees — no addictive social media before age 15. How exactly this should be enforced remains a question.

“A trap which they can no longer escape”

D66 has created a proposal for the age limit, co-submitted by the NSC, SGP, CDA, and ChristenUnie.

The proposal is first and foremost aimed at protecting children’s mental health, but also their wallets — it claims that social media platforms use addictive techniques to earn money off of children.

“Young people are shown images that are not at all suitable for them and end up in a trap from which they can no longer escape,” explains D66 MP Hanneke van der Werf to the NOS.

The age limit proposal has been supported by the BBB, SP, Partij voor de Dieren (Party for Animals), Volt, JA21, and also by the previously apprehensive GroenLinks-PvdA.

Getting everyone on board

The Netherlands would now like to make this support even broader — they are pushing for a joint European approach.

State Secretary Karremans (Youth, Prevention, and Sports) will consult his European colleagues on a possible EU-wide measure and how it could be enforced.

What do you think? Can an age limit for social media be enforced? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image:Freepik
Lina Leskovec
Lina Leskovec
Lina moved from Slovenia to the Netherlands in 2021. Three years in Amsterdam got her a Bachelor’s in Political Science and made her an advocate for biking in the rain. Her main expertise include getting the most out of her Museumkaart purchase and finding the best coffee spots in Amsterdam.

1 COMMENT

  1. Enforcement cannot happen without the support of the parents. If social media companies are to be held culpable for access to underage children, why not the parents too?

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