A majority of Dutch citizens support a ban on social media use by children under 16, revealed the largest study on social media trends in the Netherlands. The survey found that 57 per cent of the respondents support raising the minimum age from 13 to 16.

There has been a „fundamental shift” in attitudes towards social media use among under-16s, said Neil van der Veer, director of Newcom the research agency that carried out the study.

„The Dutch public recognises that young teens are not equipped to deal with the harmful to handle the harmful consequences of endless scrolling,”

said Van der Veer, adding that this is not just a perception as data shows a direct link between increased social media use and declining happiness, reported the Dutch NL Times news portal.

Support for the ban spans nearly all age groups except generation Z, which includes individuals aged 15 to 28. Opponents of the proposed restriction argue that social media can teach young users valuable skills and that banning access would hinder their ability to safely navigate a digital world.

Proponents of the higher age limit contend that young teenagers are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of social media, including exposure to inappropriate content and the pressure to maintain an online presence. Advocates also point to improved academic performance and reduced stress when children are less engaged with digital platforms.

The research found that 6.9 million Dutch citizens believe social media poses a threat to mental health, up from 6.3 million in 2024. Meanwhile, 2.4 million users reported feeling less happy due to social media use, compared to 2.2 million last year.

Approximately 5.2 million people aged 15 and older are actively trying to reduce their time on apps.

The NL Times recalled that restrictions on young people’s use of mobile phones have been introduced recently. At the beginning of last year, a decision came into force to ban mobile phones in Dutch secondary schools (attended by the 12-16 age group in the Dutch system).

Social media ban already in place elsewhere

At the end of last year, Australia’s parliament approved legislation to restrict access to social media to 16-year-olds and over.

The ban will come into force in November this year and will affect platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit and X. Exceptions will be made for health and education services, including YouTube, Messenger Kids and WhatsApp. Social media companies will be required to separate and destroy any data that has been used to set the age limit.

In Florida, US, a law banning minors under 14 from using social networking sites came into force on 1 January.