The new Dutch government proposes raising the minimum age for using social networks to 15 years, following the example of France, and introduces strict measures regarding the time spent in front of screens.

The three parties forming the new minority government of the Netherlands, D66, CDA, and VVD, have proposed raising the minimum European age for using social networks from 13 to 15 years. This initiative, aimed at protecting young users, includes age verification in a confidential manner, considering that social networks are not deemed safe enough. The parties will need to seek additional support, holding only 66 of the 150 seats in parliament.

The coalition's program also includes strict measures regarding screen time, such as preventing excessive use and stricter rules for smartphones in schools. Additionally, the Dutch government aims to become more digitally sovereign and reduce strategic dependencies in the field of cloud services and data. This proposal comes in the context of France recently adopting a similar bill.