So-called influencers should make it clearer they are not experts if they give advice online about health, diet and money, according to Christian Democrat MPs.

For example, influencers – people who are paid to promote goods and services via social media – could be required by law to carry a disclaimer, MPs have told broadcaster RTL.

Online marketeers have an increasing influence on their followers, particularly youngsters, and the Dutch food and product safety board has already warned that they often make illegal or misleading health claims when promoting a given product.

Research has also shown that so-called “fin-fluencers”, who specialise in financial advice, are encouraging youngsters to invest in risky get-rich-quick schemes. Other influencers advertise food supplements and even give contraceptive advice without medical backing.

The CDA says influencers who offer financial or health advice should make it clear whether they are experts or not. It suggests using hashtags such as #NietDeskundig, #GeenDiploma or #GeenExpert (not an expert, no diploma) to make it clear to followers that they are not professionals in those fields.

“At the moment they have free rein to say whatever rubbish they like and people listen to them,” CDA MP Jantine Zwinkels said. “People need to be protected against this.”

Coalition partners VVD and D66 also support the introduction of some sort of warning ahead of unsubstantiated claims, RTL said.

In 2024, the Dutch financial markets regulator AFM fined two men for promoting an illegal asset manager over a period of several years, netting themselves a payment of 10% of every invested amount.

The AFM says influencers should have an AFM licence to promote financial products.

Since July 2022, social media personalities who upload videos to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and who have large followings, fall under current media law and are regulated by the Dutch media commission.

The rules mean they must be clear about whether or not they were paid to promote an item by stating that the video is part of a paid partnership or whether it is an advertisement.