Strategy letter to House of Representatives (English summary)

The government’s approach rests on 3 principles:

• Protecting children
• Holding digital service providers accountable for children’s online safety
• Building children’s digital resilience

These principles guide government action and determine the responsibilities of public bodies, commercial parties and society. To put them into practice, the government will pursue a cohesive approach across 5 pillars, grouping and strengthening existing and new measures:

1. Legislation, supervision and enforcement

The online world is already heavily regulated. The government aims to strengthen this legislation and improve monitoring of compliance, so that companies offering digital services to children can be more effectively held to account, particularly regarding harmful design choices and practices. Achieving these objectives depends on European decision-making, the capacity of supervisory authorities and the further implementation of new legislation.

European approach and legislation

As long as social media are not safe enough for children, the government supports a European minimum age of 15. This position has been shared with the European Commission in a non-paper co-signed by Spain. On 17 September 2026, the Commission published a proposal for an EU KIDS Act that includes a minimum age. The government will study this proposal and form its position.

The government is committed to making social media safer for children and believes a wide range of measures is necessary. In recent years, measures have been taken at the European and national levels, including improving children’s digital skills, informing parents and, through the Digital Services Act, requiring platforms to adopt appropriate measures for children’s privacy and safety.

Nevertheless, social media remain unsafe for children. Features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and personalised recommendation algorithms encourage prolonged use, and children are particularly vulnerable to these design choices. The European Commission’s recent supervisory actions confirm that these mechanisms can contribute to compulsive use. Intensive use is also linked to a higher risk of anxiety, depression, stress and a negative self-image.

The government welcomes the 13 July 2026 recommendations of von der Leyen’s independent panel of experts, which concluded that a minimum age is essential. Social media providers must also be required to set up their services to be safe by default.

Key criteria

Any legislative proposal must meet several criteria:

1. Age assurance must use privacy-friendly age verification, preferably with privacy-enhancing techniques such as zero-knowledge proof technology, with both public and private methods available.
2. Measures must be proportionate and necessary with respect to fundamental rights, and the government will assess any EU legislation for compatibility with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the ECHR and the Dutch Constitution.
3. The approach must be risk-based, focusing on unsafe platforms rather than all social media, so that some platforms could be exempted.

2. Equipping parents, caregivers and professionals

Parents and caregivers play a key role in helping children navigate the online world, but often lack the knowledge, confidence and reliable information to do so. The government is therefore working with trusted partners to provide accessible information, practical advice and support through schools, childcare centres, healthcare services, libraries and public awareness campaigns.

Key initiatives include:

• National Guidelines on Healthy Screen Use: Promoting healthy screen and social media habits, digital resilience and children’s mental wellbeing.
• Digital Kijkwijzer: Developing a classification system to help parents guide their children’s media use.
• Public awareness campaign ‘Stay in the Picture’: Providing parents with practical advice on children’s online safety and digital wellbeing.
• Your Child Online: Offering reliable information, resources and practical tips on children and media literacy.
• Support from telecom providers: Helping parents make informed decisions about smartphones, screen time and online safety.
• Media Infants Days: Raising awareness and providing practical advice for families with children aged 0–6.
• Local media literacy initiatives: Supporting parents, children and professionals through workshops, training and information sessions.
• Research and knowledge-sharing: Improving understanding of children’s media use and parents’ support needs through surveys and the Parenting in Digital Balance Collaborative Network.

The government is also strengthening prevention of online radicalisation by improving digital resilience, identifying warning signs early, supporting young people at risk and protecting them from harmful content. This involves cooperation between ministries, local authorities, professionals and online platforms.

Finally, efforts to prevent online child sexual abuse focus on equipping children, parents, carers and professionals to recognise risks and take action. Initiatives include educational resources for schools, support for parents to discuss sexuality and online risks, and funding for Offlimits’ helpline, reporting centre and prevention services.

3. Education that helps build digital skills

Children need digital skills to participate fully in today’s society. Schools aim to strengthen these skills and encourage pupils to think critically and inquisitively. The approach forms part of the Strategic Plan for Digitalisation in Primary and Secondary Education, to be presented to the House in autumn.

Digital literacy in the curriculum

Digital literacy is being introduced as a new area of learning in the revised curriculum, alongside Dutch language, arithmetic and citizenship. Pupils will learn to use digital technology and media responsibly, interact safely online and assess the reliability of information, with media literacy playing a key role.

The attainment targets were submitted to the House on 1 September 2025. They are expected to become law on 1 August 2027, with enforcement-based inspections by the Inspectorate of Education starting on 1 August 2031.

Schools will receive support through the Digital Literacy Expertise Centre, which provides research, guidance and practical resources. Schools retain the freedom to incorporate the targets into their teaching as they see fit. Teacher training courses are already incorporating the revised curriculum, while practising teachers receive support to prepare lessons on digital literacy.

Mobile phones: ‘Thuis of in de kluis’ (‘At home or in your locker’)

Since 1 January 2024, national agreements have kept mobile phones out of classrooms. Evaluations show positive effects on pupils’ concentration, classroom atmosphere and social interaction.

Many schools have gone further by banning phones from all school premises. The government intends to make this stricter approach the national standard. The Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and Equality is working with the education sector and other stakeholders on an implementation plan, potentially taking effect on 1 January 2027. The plan will also address practical implementation, monitoring and enforcement, while allowing exceptions where necessary. The House will be informed of the outcome later this year.

4. Active participation of children, parents and caregivers

Children, parents and carers should be actively involved in developing and implementing policy. Their experiences help ensure that policies reflect real-life needs. The government aims to strengthen participation structures and make better use of insights from the field.

Children as co-designers of the world

• Praatpower: More than 3,000 young people took part in the ‘Praatpower’ (‘The Power of Talking’) discussions on what they need to grow up mentally healthy, both online and offline. Their findings highlighted the opportunities and risks of the digital world, as well as the need for greater control over online content and safe online spaces. Their recommendations were also discussed with policymakers and professionals at the ‘Harmful but Lawful’ conference.
• Youth Council on Digitalisation: In partnership with UNICEF, the Youth Council on Digitalisation brings young people’s perspectives into policymaking on digitalisation and children’s online rights. Meeting four times a year, it advises policymakers on issues such as social media, screen use, online safety and digital resilience. Its insights inform policy development, implementation and evaluation.
• Wider youth participation: The National Youth Council also represents young people’s views in policy and decision-making. In addition, young people met with the NCTV and other organisations to discuss their experiences of extreme online content. They share their insights with professionals, who use them to raise awareness of online radicalisation.

Parents as partners

• Parents’ Council on Children’s Rights Online: The government is establishing a parents’ council to enable regular dialogue with parents, guardians and carers. Its input will help shape policy and ensure that support meets families’ needs. The council will form part of a broader participation structure under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and contribute to the ‘Stay in the Picture’ campaign.

Knowledge and insights from practice

• Combating online hate and discrimination: The pilot project ‘Standing Together against Online Hate and Discrimination’, developed by the Dutch Media Literacy Network and Diversion, concluded in December 2025. It included ‘Social Clean-up Day’, a preventive initiative co-developed with young people. Possible follow-up activities are being explored.
• National Children’s Rights Scan: The Trimbos Institute is developing a framework to systematically monitor children’s digital rights, safety and wellbeing in the Netherlands, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25. The scan will gather children’s experiences through structured discussions. An initial assessment is planned for next year, in collaboration with the Children’s Ombudsman and the Digital Child Rights Foundation.
• Monitoring concerns raised by stakeholders: The government is strengthening cooperation with organisations including Offlimits, the Dutch Media Literacy Network, the Netherlands Youth Institute, Trimbos, UNICEF and the Child Helpline. By sharing reports and emerging trends with policymakers, these organisations help identify new risks early and ensure that policies remain responsive to children’s rights and experiences online.

5. National and international cooperation

Children’s online lives cross national borders, making cooperation between government, regulators, researchers, civil society, schools, parents and digital platforms essential. The government aims to strengthen existing partnerships and build international coalitions on issues such as age limits, age verification and platform responsibility.

Cooperation within the Netherlands

• Cooperation between ministries: The Minister for the Digital Economy and Sovereignty coordinates the government’s work on children’s online rights. The strategy aims to ensure a coherent approach across ministries, while respecting their individual responsibilities and budgets.
• Cooperation between civil society organisations: Although many organisations work on children’s online rights, existing networks already facilitate substantial cooperation. The government aims to build on these connections and strengthen collaboration between ministries and centres of expertise.

Examples include:

• Offlimits: Providing a reporting service for illegal online content and requesting its removal by platforms.
• UNICEF: Consulting children to inform policy development.
• Dutch Media Literacy Network (DMLN): Supporting the ‘Stay in the Picture’ campaign through its JouwKindOnline platform.
• Parenting in Digital Balance Collaborative Network: Bringing together experts and organisations to raise awareness, provide practical advice and promote healthy screen use.

‘Youth Online’ Agenda

The ‘Youth Online’ Agenda brings together organisations including UNICEF, MIND Us and Door het Geluid, alongside researchers, professionals and public authorities. Supported by the Ministries of the Interior and Health, it combines expertise and practical insights to improve children’s online environment and strengthen cooperation. Responsibility for its continued implementation now lies with the participating organisations. No structural funding is available for the agenda.

Dutch Media Literacy Network (DMLN)

The DMLN brings together hundreds of organisations working to improve media literacy and support children, parents and carers. Through local activities, workshops and training, it turns national recommendations into practice. Its Research Council, comprising more than 20 researchers, also promotes knowledge-sharing on issues such as social media, age limits, digital resilience and emerging technologies. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science provides ong

Offlimits Reporting Centre

Offlimits provides advice, support and reporting services for online abuse and can request the removal of manifestly illegal content. The government also supports its work on harmful but lawful content through a one-off grant running until the end of 2026. This project aims to improve victim support, classify harmful content, analyse reports and identify systemic risks under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Expertise Centre for Digitalisation and Wellbeing

The Trimbos Institute’s Expertise Centre connects research, policy and practice on digitalisation and wellbeing. It develops knowledge about the effects of digital technology on health, including children’s health, and supports monitoring and early detection through national surveys and industry research. It also promotes cooperation between public authorities, researchers and civil society organisations, examines the tension between commercial interests and child-friendly design, and manages the public information website digitalebalans.nl. The Centre received a three-year government grant in 2024.

European and international cooperation

Protecting children online requires action beyond national borders. The Netherlands therefore works with international partners through the EU, Council of Europe, OECD and UN.

Key frameworks and initiatives include:

• The EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
• The European Commission’s Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy
• European initiatives on minimum social media ages and age verification
• UNICEF’s International Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Together with like-minded countries, the Netherlands seeks more harmonised approaches to age limits, standards, platform responsibilities and children’s online protection. Differences in national laws, cultures and regulatory frameworks mean that continued dialogue, coordination and coalition-building remain essential.

Final remarks

Discussions with children, parents, professionals and civil society organisations make the need for action clear: the online world must be designed more safely, people responsible for children’s upbringing must receive better support, and children must have more influence in shaping the online world in which they are growing up. With this update, the government is putting this policy into practice. Only through the joint efforts of the public authorities, the business community, civil society organisations, parents and caregivers, and children themselves can we build a digital society in which children can grow up in safety, health and resilience.