Doctors, scientists, and other experts are calling on the government to take action against smartphone use at a young age. They believe that children should only have their own smartphone from the age of fourteen. They are also in favor of a ban on social media until the age of sixteen.
Together, the doctors and scientists signed a letter of concern on the platform of Smartphonevrij Opgroeien (Smartphone-free Growing Up). This is a parent initiative that advocates letting children grow up without smartphones and algorithms for as long as possible.
In a letter of concern, experts write that they are worried about the negative consequences that smartphones can have on the (mental) health of young people. The group sees that it is common to give phones to children at a young age. According to them, it is “time to revise the social starting point”.
Among the signatories of the letter are chairman Petra de Jong of AJN Jeugdartsen Nederland, developmental psychologist Steven Pont and professor of Medicine and chairman of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) Marcel Levi. Hundreds more general practitioners agree with the content.
The Smartphonevrij Opgroeien initiative has become increasingly visible in recent months. In recent weeks, parents of 30,000 children have already spoken out through the organization for a parent pact, which also calls for a new standard for smartphone use. Experts are now joining in.
Concerns about mental and physical health
They express their concerns about the physical and mental consequences of the many hours that young people spend on their phones on average. According to studies, all that screen use not only leads to a greater chance of nearsightedness, but it also comes at the expense of physical activity and can cause sleep problems.
The effects of smartphones and social media on the development of children have been a point of discussion for some time. In the Netherlands, it led to a telephone ban in primary and secondary schools, although the schools themselves determine whether they participate.
In Australia, a ban on social media for children up to the age of sixteen has been in effect since the end of last year. Other countries are also discussing the possibilities of setting a minimum age, including France, Spain and Norway.