One in 10 Dutch teens turn to AI instead of parents for money advice
Dutch teenagers and young adults are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for financial advice, according to research by online banks Bunq and Revolut, though parents and traditional sources remain influential.
A study commissioned by Bunq found that one in ten Dutch youths aged 12 to 16 prefers consulting AI over their parents for money matters.
The trend rises with age: 7 percent of 12-year-olds and 14 percent of 16-year-olds would consult a chatbot first. Despite AI’s growing role, parents remain important. About 20 percent of teens said they would like to discuss finances more often with their parents, while 40 percent admitted to sometimes hiding purchases or debts.
“Young people are rapidly embracing AI’s possibilities and want to involve their parents as much as possible,” Bianca Zwart of Bunq told De Telegraaf. “The strength lies in combining smart tools with goal-setting alongside parents.”
Nearly two-thirds of teens reported having clear financial goals. Younger children tend to save more enthusiastically, while saving declines with age; 52 percent of 16-year-olds put money aside purposefully.
A supplemental survey of 580 Dutch parents showed that many want to talk more about money with their children. One in ten parents said they have no idea how much their child spends each month.
Revolut’s research focused on 18- to 24-year-olds, highlighting that this group is the Netherlands’ most financially active generation. Only one in five does not invest, compared with half of all Dutch adults who do not.
For these young adults, social media and AI are the primary sources of investment information, surpassing financial advisors and friends, whereas older generations mainly rely on traditional media and advisors.
Nicolis Moalic of Revolut described the trend as “a quiet revolution,” noting that traditional investments such as real estate are losing ground. “The new generations break the pattern and show that the future of wealth building will look very different,” he told De Telegraaf.
