Primary and secondary schools are being asked to keep mobile phones out of the school day from January.
The call comes in a proposal from digital economy minister Willemijn Aerdts, which would stop children using their phones on school grounds, tighten the rules on children who appear in family vlogs, and put limits on the time they spend scrolling.
What the minister says
“Online, on social media or in video games, children quickly become exposed and face unacceptable risks,” Aerdts said in the proposal, which is called ‘Strategy Letter on Children’s Rights’.
National agreements banning phone use in the classroom have been in place since 2024.
The government cannot order schools to go further than that, so the education ministry will work with them to come up with an agreement.
Research and an age limit
Aerdts also wants to limit the way children are used in online content, such as family-style YouTube channels.
The cabinet intends to commission research into sites and services including Netflix, YouTube, Roblox, Fortnite, ChatGPT, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, and the effect they have on children.
The government backed an EU-wide minimum age for social media earlier this year, and D66, VVD and CDA agreed in their coalition deal to push for an enforceable European minimum age of 15.
