Social media drives children into crime at younger ages, Rotterdam judges warn
Dutch courts report children are increasingly drawn into crime at younger ages, with social media fueling recruitment, according to Rotterdam court judges. Children as young as 13 are now involved, shifting from the previous 16-to-18 age range
The Rotterdam court will increase its youth judges from 15.5 to 19.6 full-time equivalents in 2026 due to rising juvenile cases. “We have had to deploy more youth judges this year because there are now more criminal cases involving children,” court president Julia Mendlik told AD. She noted the trend is nationwide.
“They do not fully understand what they are doing and are easier to entice. They often do not realize the consequences or what this means for the rest of their lives,” Mendlik added.
Juvenile suspects rose from 13,300 in 2023 to 14,100 in 2024, a small fraction of the 214,500 total cases handled by the Public Prosecution Service. Rotterdam expects juvenile cases to rise from 2,500 to 3,300 next year.
More minors are involved in serious crimes, including arson. “The explosions have increased enormously, and five or six years ago, these cases were almost non-existent,” youth judge Willem Loorbach told AD.
Social media plays a central role in recruitment. “Where a few years ago youngsters responded voluntarily to calls to make quick money, now they are approached online. Recruiters are much more aggressive. Young people are contacted via social media and, once they engage, pressured to participate. Sometimes threats are made: ‘We know where you live, and if you don’t do it, we will leave a cobra at your door,’” Loorbach told AD.
Once involved, minors struggle to exit. “After completing one task, it is hard to refuse the next. And if a task fails, they may have a debt that must be repaid with another job,” Loorbach told the newspaper. Assignments are often filmed as proof, which is dangerous for the minors.
Online recruitment is particularly risky. “If someone is approached on the street, a neighbor might notice. But online in your bedroom, no one sees it,” Loorbach said. Snapchat is often used. “On Snapchat it is very easy to connect with strangers. Young people are often added to groups without realizing it and then asked to carry out tasks,” he added.
