Experts warn raising social media age limit might not improve youth safety

Raising the minimum age for social media use will not necessarily make online spaces safer for young people, according to Nastasia Griffioen, a researcher and coordinator at the Expertise Center for Digitalization and Wellbeing at the Trimbos Institute. Griffioen spoke in response to proposals in the coalition agreement by D66, VVD, and CDA to implement a European-wide enforceable minimum age of 15 for social media and increase oversight of major online platforms.

Griffioen acknowledged that regulating large tech companies is important but said setting an age limit is unlikely to achieve the intended safety outcomes. "It can even be counterproductive," she said.

She stated that the common assumption—that social media broadly causes harm to youth, including anxiety, insecurity, and suicidal thoughts—is overly simplistic. "There are many factors underlying these issues," she said. Social media, she added, can also serve as a coping tool for adolescents dealing with stress. "They seek refuge there to manage stress."

Research cited by Griffioen shows that broad prohibitions often fail. She pointed to China’s ban on gaming as an example: youth typically find ways to circumvent restrictions, and if they encounter problems, the barrier to asking for help or confiding in parents can increase.

Instead of raising the age limit, Griffioen argued that efforts should focus on building resilience in young people and educating them about the risks of online use.