Daily time limits on social media among mandatory safeguards considered for teens in S’pore
Upcoming legislative changes to mandate age checks will underpin the mandatory safeguards for teen users.
Singapore's government is contemplating mandatory safeguards for teenagers, including a daily time limit on social media usage, in order to address addiction and harmful interactions, according to Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo. Teo explained that the concept of infinite scrolling lacks natural stopping points, prompting discussions about implementing time limits for platform use.
The proposed measures stem from a National Day Rally speech by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who emphasized that social media platforms serving under-18 users must introduce stronger safeguards to prevent unhealthy comparisons and social isolation. Singapore's plan includes implementing age checks early in 2027, which could require apps to raise their minimum age requirement from 13 to 18.
The government aims to restrict features like autoplay, direct messages from strangers, and algorithmic feeds, similar to restrictions imposed by Meta (Facebook and Instagram) in a recent US$18 billion settlement for alleged harm to children. Teo stressed that the critical aspect is not a specific number of daily usage hours but rather encouraging diverse engagement in daily life.
The government is also considering the findings of an expert panel, which suggested that excessive social media use, such as over three hours a day for users aged 15-17, may be detrimental. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, HardwareZone, X, and YouTube are among the first six platforms identified for mandatory age checks, with more platforms to be added as needed based on ongoing research and debates surrounding potential risks.
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