Dutch gov't to ban kidfluencers: No under 16s making commercial content on social media
The Dutch government wants to ban “kidfluencers,” children under the age of 16 who make commercial content for social media, such as unboxing videos and videos by family vloggers. Children being systematically used as a revenue model is effectively child labor and must be treated as such, Minister Thierry Aartsen of Work & Participation said in a letter to parliament, RTL Nieuws reports.
Children appearing online in family vlogs and other videos with a wide reach can face significant risks, including a loss of privacy or a negative self-image, the VVD Minister said. “Especially when children are used as a revenue model by companies or parents.” He pointed out that the Labor Inspectorate is also concerned about kidfluencers.
To protect these children, Aartsen wants to bring the “commercial production of online content by and with children” under the rules for child labor. That means that using children under the age of 16 for commercial online content will be illegal, with the corresponding fines. The Minister said that he wants to mainly tackle excesses, but he is still working out where he will draw the line.
Aartsen also wants to better inform parents about the risks of their children’s online visibility. And he wants to provide better care and support to children who experience negative consequences from their online work. The government is working with organizations like Veiligh Thuis to investigate how reporting and support can be better organized.
These plans form part of the government’s broader Children’s Rights Online Strategy.
