25 EU Member States Against Infinite Scrolling and Manipulative Money Tricks in Video Games

"Online learning, relaxing, and connecting is very valuable for children.” says State Secretary for Digitalization Eddie van Marum. “But we also see the downside: bullying, shocking images, unwanted contacts, and health problems from too much screen time. Therefore, social media and other companies providing online services must take their responsibility. We must help children and parents use these services responsibly. That is why it is important for the Netherlands to sign this declaration. Together with 24 other EU member states, we send a strong signal that the online safety of children is a priority."

An important part of the declaration is that companies must take more responsibility to protect children using their services. This means that services for children must be designed from the start to be safe and to adequately protect children, especially regarding their privacy. Addictive techniques such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos lead to excessive screen time and pose health risks. Children also face dangers in video games, such as cyberbullying, grooming, and spending too much money on loot boxes, pay-to-win elements, and in-game currency. With the Jutland Declaration, the signing countries advocate for addressing and limiting these harmful elements.

If there are significant risks for children, age verification can help protect them. This must be done in a reliable, safe, and privacy-friendly manner. Since this is an intrusive measure, it must always be proportional. For services or products with legal age limits and whose harmfulness to children is indisputable – such as alcohol and tobacco – the use of age verification is more justified and sometimes even legally required – such as in online gambling.

In recent years, significant steps have been taken in legislation to protect children online, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA). It is now crucial that these rules are strictly adhered to and enforced. The Netherlands continues to commit to this and works closely with the European Commission and national regulators. The European guidelines for the protection of children, established in July 2025, are an important step forward: they require online platforms to take appropriate measures for the privacy and safety of children.