News item | 21-05-2025 | 16:03
Online videos and vlogs in which money is earned by or with children have become a new form of child labor. Kidfluencers, vlog families and mom and dadfluencers are becoming increasingly popular. To protect children against the harmful effects that these new forms of child labor can have, stricter regulations are needed. State Secretary Jurgen Nobel of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) – responsible for working conditions – reports this to the House of Representatives.
State Secretary Jurgen Nobel: “I understand that people like to get a glimpse into the lives of others through social media. But that should not be at the expense of the well -being of children. Without stricter rules, modern child labor is lurking. We should not want to. Children should not be a revenue model. That is not enough.
Children in the online world must be better protected to prevent abuses. Vlog families, in which children often come into the picture during the daily lives of their parents, can have many followers on online platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Experts see risks for their psychological well -being and healthy development, but there are also concerns about privacy and online abuse of the images of children.
Obligation
In order to better guarantee the safety of children, Nobel will adjust the laws and regulations regarding child labor so that it responds better to online developments. It is already mandatory to request an exemption if children figure in online videos with a clear commercial approach. This rule is difficult for the Dutch Labor Inspectorate if the boundary between hobby and work is not always clear. There is also not always a clear employer-employee relationship. That is why the regulations will be tightened to prevent abuses. With the tightening, an exemption obligation will apply to parents of children in, among other things, family logs with which money is earned. If parents of child vloggers have an exemption obligation, it is better to monitor abuses because they are also visible in the labor inspection. The parent can also be held responsible as an employer.
Penalty
In some cases, vlog families make major profits with their company, which can increase the commercial pressure on their children with all the associated risks. A fine of non -compliance with the exemption obligation must be appropriate and have an effect. That is why the government is also working on sharpening the fine policy.
Education
Most parents want the best for their children. However, many parents do not always realize what it means for a child to vlog himself or to frequently occur in vlogs of parents. Information is needed to point out the risks for the well-being of children and to make them aware of applicable laws and regulations around vlogs. In the coming period, an information approach will be worked on to reach parents of vlog families and kidfluencers in a targeted manner.