Supporting tighter social media safeguards for children in Singapore

Advocates for stricter regulations argue that Singapore must act decisively to protect children from the documented harms of social media. Research has linked heavy social media use among teenagers to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor sleep. The addictive design of platforms like TikTok and Instagram can keep young users glued to screens for hours, exposing them to cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predators. Josephine Teo's push for tighter safeguards aligns with a global movement that includes laws in France requiring parental consent for minors and Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media. In Singapore, existing measures under the Online Safety Act focus on blocking harmful content, but they do not address the compulsive use or privacy risks that children face. Supporters believe that a combination of age verification, screen-time limits, and educational campaigns would give parents more control and reduce risks. They point to pilot programs in other countries that show reduced screen time and improved well-being when children have limited social media access. For Singapore, which prides itself on a safe and orderly society, adopting stronger protections for children online is a natural next step. The key is to balance regulation with innovation, ensuring that children can still benefit from technology while being shielded from its worst effects.