More than 1,400 experts call in a fire letter to a smartphone prohibition for children under 14

A group of more than 1,400 doctors, scientists and practical experts argue for an age limit for the use of smartphones and social media. The signatories of the letter of fire Present a minimum age of fourteen years for smartphone use and a ban on social media for children younger than sixteen.

The experts are concerned about the physical and mental health of children who get a smartphone at a young age. « Given the intensive smartphone and social media use among children and young people, the demonstrable physical health effects, the indications of mental damage and the lack of guarantee of a structural safe and suitable digital environment, it is time to revise the social starting point, » they write in their fire letter.

The question of whether or not children are allowed to use a smartphone plays worldwide. Thus, parents in Hamburg started in 2019 SMARTER START AB 14 (Smart start from 14) to the example of the American Wait Until 8th (a reference to the Eight grade In American schools, where children are around fourteen). Parents have also set up similar initiatives in the Netherlands. The fire letter was published by the organization growth -free growing up, that the example of Smartphone Free Childhood From the United Kingdom followed and has been active since the summer of 2024.

Parents went even further in Ireland. The town of Graystones attracted attention in the spring of 2023 worldwide when eight primary schools, sports clubs and parents agreed to no longer give children access to mobile phones. Both at home, in their spare time and at school, that total ban applied before they went to high school. In The Guardian said One of the parents that her thirteen -year -old daughter turned into a robot when she sucked into the world of Tiktok. « I lost my daughter, » said the mother in 2023.

Prohibition in Australia

The Dutch group of experts wants to get The Hague to set age rules for smartphone use. In December 2024 The cabinet decided not wanting such a limit for the use of social media. According to MPs, the harmfulness has not been conclusively demonstrated, as is the case with alcohol, for example. « The good example must come from home. Parents play a central role, » said State Secretary Zolt Szabó (digitization, PVV) at the time.

In Australia, that ban on social media did come; A world first. Last November, the Australian Senate adopted a law proposal to ban social media for children under sixteen. Anthony Albanese, the country’s prime minister, said he saw a clear connection with the deteriorated mental health of young people and the use of social media. What such a ban looks like in practice is still not entirely clear.

Although the more than 1,400 experts in the fire letter are unevalently about the importance of a ban, many others struggle with the right approach. For example, professor of law and digital technology Simone van der Hof said last December against NRC That a ban does not really solve anything. « If you forbid children to come on social media, you block a whole part of their lives, including the positive sides that social media also have. » According to Van der Hof, the government should, on the contrary, draw up rules for social media platforms, so that they are safe places for minors and a prohibition is not necessary.

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