National guidelines on screen use have been around for some time. So is a platform like this still necessary? Yes, says Wouter van den Bos: ‘Those government guidelines are scientifically grounded, but they are not always entirely clear or practical. And not every parent has the time to delve deeply into what is best for children. With the new platform, we aim to make tips and advice as concrete as possible, while drawing on the same scientific foundations as the national guidelines.’

A platform for all Amsterdammers

For Van den Bos, a major strength of the platform is that it is designed for all Amsterdammers: ‘The tips are not only concrete; the language has also been carefully considered. The municipality offers all information in multiple languages and at different Dutch language levels. The advice is also understandable for people with a mild intellectual disability. I think that’s one of the biggest plus points of this project.’

Information available at Parent and Child Teams

Digitaal Opgroeien is more than just a website. The information it provides is also prominently available at locations of the Parent and Child Teams across the city. These are neighbourhood centres where you can get advice on parenting, health and development. Staff use Digitaal Opgroeien’s resources to talk with parents about topics such as screen time, social media and online behaviour. You’ll also find flyers and materials to take home.

Van den Bos: ‘It’s important that we bring youth workers along in this development as well. They increasingly have to take into account the aspects of young people’s lives that play out online and are less visible to them: group chats, influencers, the “manosphere”. That requires a different way of working from them as well.’

No phone in the bedroom

As a parent, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. What does Van den Bos see as a good first step? ‘One of the simplest pieces of advice is not to let teenagers take their smartphone into the bedroom when they go to bed at night. Research has shown that young people who do take their phone with them are more likely to have problems with phone use and to sleep worse. It’s therefore a measure that really pays off and is easy for parents to implement.’

Talk with your child, and with each other

Alongside setting rules, it is important to keep the conversation going, Van den Bos explains: ‘Talking with your child about what they do and encounter online is crucial. That way you maintain at least some visibility into their online world. It also helps to discuss why certain rules exist. Agreements often work better when a young person understands where they come from. You can also find background information for those conversations on digitaalopgroeien.nl.’

Parents should not only talk with their children, but also with each other: ‘I see many parents feeling uncertain and worried they’re getting it wrong. It helps to regularly exchange experiences with other parents and to hear how they approach it as a family.’

Look at your own screen use

In addition to advice on agreements and phone settings, Wouter has another tip for parents that may be a bit confronting: ‘Take a look at your own screen use. If you are constantly on your phone, it’s hard for children to understand why they aren’t allowed to do the same. Research also shows a link between parents with problematic screen use and children with the same problem.’

Not leaving parents to cope alone

For Van den Bos, DigitaalOpgroeien.nl is one piece of a bigger puzzle: ‘I hope parents will feel more engaged and informed, and more aware of the important role they play in their child’s digital upbringing. But we also have to be realistic: large platforms are designed to hold our attention for as long as possible. They make money from our time and attention. That’s why it’s important that government and companies also take more responsibility for a healthier digital environment. But that won’t change overnight, and as long as those big systems change little, it’s all the more important that parents aren’t left to cope alone. With Digitaal Opgroeien we’re trying to help children grow up positively in a digital world. Because that they are growing up in it is a given.’