BRUSSELS 

Support in the Netherlands for banning social media use by children under 16 is rising sharply, with the strongest growth seen among Generation Z, according to an annual survey by research firm Newcom.

Based on a representative survey of 6,685 respondents, Newcom found that 63% of Dutch people now support a ban on social media for under-16s, up from 57% last year, broadcaster NOS reported on Friday.

Of the 14.6 million people in the Netherlands who actively use social media platforms, 2.6 million say apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok make them feel less happy. That figure increased from 2.4 million a year earlier.

The study also shows that 7.2 million users believe activities like scrolling, liking and sharing content pose a risk to mental health, compared with 6.9 million last year.

Newcom director Neil van der Veer said people are experiencing more negative side effects from social media than ever before. "The impact it has on our mental well-being and the level of loneliness has become enormous," he said.

The more actively people use social media, the more likely they are to report complaints, he added.

As a result, around 5.5 million people in the Netherlands are trying to reduce their time spent on social media.

Support for stricter regulation is increasing across all age groups, but the shift is most pronounced among Gen Z users aged 16 to 28.

Within this group, 60% now support a ban for under-16s, compared with 44% last year.

"A huge shift in one year, it breaks the cliché that young people don't want rules. This is the generation that has experience with it; they may see the dangers even more clearly," Van der Veer said.

Respondents cited several reasons for supporting a ban, most commonly that children are not yet able to deal with the harmful effects of social media.

Others said a ban could reduce online pressure and better protect minors from inappropriate content.

Opponents of a ban argue that social media can also help children develop positive skills.

Australia introduced a ban on social media for children under 16 late last year, while several European countries are considering similar policies, and the European Commission is also exploring the issue.