Singapore could bar under-18s from social media platforms that fail safety test
SOCIAL media platforms that fail to adequately protect teenage users could be barred from serving anyone under 18 in Singapore, as the Government prepares to tighten age-verification and online safety requirements. Singapore’s Minister for Informatio...
Singapore could restrict users under 18 from accessing social media platforms that fail to meet strict safety requirements, according to government plans unveiled on September 1, 2026. Information and Digital Development Minister Josephine Teo announced that platforms must introduce robust age verification systems and stronger safeguards to protect teenage users.
While platforms can initially propose their own age verification methods, the effectiveness of these systems will be assessed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The proposed regulations would raise the minimum access age from 13 to 18 for platforms that refuse to comply. Key features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling will also be subject to enhanced controls, and platforms must improve protections around teenage interactions with strangers online.
The initial rollout is expected to cover Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, HardwareZone, X, and YouTube, with potential future extensions to other services like video games, messaging apps, and AI chatbots. The government aims to introduce legislative amendments in early 2027 to give IMDA stronger enforcement powers against non-compliant platforms.
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