In July, the outgoing cabinet announced a package of measures to better protect children's rights online. VNG welcomes this. Only it is still unclear what will be done about the mental health of children and the role of youth care in this. In a letter, VNG asks attention for this.
State Secretary Van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations and Digitalization) informed the Lower House via this parliamentary letter about protecting children from digital technology and on the Internet. The new measures are aimed at further regulating providers, supporting a child's environment, strengthening government supervision and setting up hotlines and a national expertise center.
The parliamentary letter has a firm focus on stronger regulation of providers of online services. VNG thinks this is absolutely necessary and an important first step. But we miss an integral approach to the problems caused by the online environment. In the Kamerbrief, the State Secretary cites a study that shows the link between social media use and negative (mental and social) effects. These include increasing concentration problems, negative self-image, addiction, lower school performance and school absenteeism.
Municipalities see these effects reflected in youth care, which is already under severe pressure in the first place, and are concerned. In the Kamerbrief, this perspective is still too little highlighted. These are complex issues, which is why we are asking for additional research into them.
In view of the Parliamentary debate on Children's Rights and Digitization on September 14, VNG shared these concerns in a letter to parliament (pdf, 87 kB).
