The Netherlands drops again in the ranking of children's rights: mainly due to vaccination rate and social media use

The Netherlands is no longer in the top 20 of countries where children's rights are well regulated. On the latest KidsRights Index, our country has dropped to 21st place. And that while the Netherlands was still firmly at number 4 in 2022. Since then, things have gone downhill: last year our country experienced a small revival to 19th place, after we were ranked twentieth in 2023, but now the Netherlands has dropped again.

The KidsRights Index, drawn up annually by children's rights organisation KidsRights together with Erasmus University Rotterdam, assesses countries on five important aspects: the right to life, health, education, protection and whether there is a favourable climate for children's rights. The Netherlands no longer scores very well in this respect.

The decline is not a coincidence. There are several concerns: a declining vaccination rate, the ongoing problems in youth care, too little attention for children's rights in migration policy and concerns about child poverty. The online landscape is also a growing problem. Children are insufficiently protected against harmful content and sexual abuse material. And then we haven't even mentioned the mental health of young people.

According to the index, countries, including the Netherlands, are responding far too slowly to the risks of digital media. They are now said to be a “silent killer” for the mental health of young people. Young people are confronted with bullying, abuse and unrealistic beauty ideals, which leads to more psychological complaints. Worldwide, more than 14 percent of young people between the ages of 10 and 19 struggle with serious mental problems. Suicide is now the third cause of death among 15 to 19 year olds.

Digitization is progressing rapidly, while policymakers can barely keep up. Moderation on social media is lagging behind, algorithms are steering children towards inappropriate content and companies are putting profit above well-being. While playgrounds in the Netherlands are equipped with rubber tiles to prevent physical damage, such a safety net is completely absent online. This is what chairman Marc Dullaert of KidsRights states in an interview with the AD.

That is why KidsRights advocates stricter online measures: mandatory age checks, better moderation, transparent algorithms and more psychological help. Not only in the Netherlands, but worldwide, the approach to social media use by children is still in its infancy.

Dutch doctors have been advocating for an age limit of at least 16 years for the use of social media for some time now.

What makes it extra striking: the Netherlands has now been overtaken by countries such as Qatar and Lithuania. They are doing better, especially in the area of ​​health and living conditions. But a clear difference is also emerging within Europe. The top 3 of the ranking is formed by Luxembourg, Iceland and Greece: countries that broadly embrace and actively protect children's rights.

Our eastern neighbours Germany are in a solid fourth place, followed by Monaco. Belgium, our southern neighbours, occupies seventh place. This not only puts the Netherlands outside the top 20, but also at a considerable distance from the countries we often compare ourselves to. A painful contrast for a country that is known for its good healthcare and education system, but now does not live up to that reputation when it comes to children's rights.

The Netherlands is lagging behind when it comes to protecting young people in the digital world. The current approach is cautious and fragmented, with a focus on data protection via European directives such as the GDPR. But real, specific legislation to safeguard children's mental health online is still lacking.

According to KidsRights , it is time for concrete action: give companies a duty of care, so that they no longer contribute to psychological damage, but instead help prevent it. Young people with depression, eating disorders or who grow up in poverty cannot afford a wait-and-see policy. If we arrange their safety on the street with rubber tiles in the playground, why not online? The time for half measures is over.

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