The government has launched a campaign warning youngsters about the risk of  ramping up debt by using “buy now pay later” services such as Klarna.

Last year, financial watchdog AFM warned the services “normalise debt” and said some 100,000 minors are using them, although the legal minimum age is 18. “The controls on the app are being circumvented, “something which is apparently very easy,” an AFM spokesman said.

The campaign aims to make youngsters more aware of the risks, junior social affairs minister Jurgen Nobel said. “It’s becoming more and more tempting. A few clicks and you can have great stuff even if you don’t have any money in your account at the time.”

“It looks convenient but you are spending money you don’t have,” Nobel told broadcaster NOS.

The campaign consists of videos featuring a grumpy-looking cat which symbolises the kater, or hangover, experienced by users who find themselves in debt.

A recent investigation by family spending institute Nibud showed that young people lose sight of their finances if they use services like Klarna. Queen Máxima has also called the trend “a bomb set to explode”.

A survey on behalf of the social affairs ministry among 677 youngsters between 16 and 21 showed that one in seven was late paying off the debt and one in 10 had received a reminder or had to pay additional costs.

In April, a court ruled that these costs were part of Klarna’s earning model.

“Young people often have low incomes and that makes them vulnerable,” Nobel said. “We want to prevent them from getting into financial dire straits at a young age. But in the end, the consumer has the power. Awareness of the risks is more powerful than any legislation.”