Singapore may block under-18s from social media platforms that fail child safety standards: Josephine Teo

Singapore is considering blocking social media access for individuals under 18 on platforms that do not meet stringent child safety standards, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo announced Friday. Conversely, platforms demonstrating a commitment to child safety could maintain access for young users.

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It is potentially a differentiated landscape where some services, some platforms have made it possible for child-safe access, and they continue to offer access to those under 18.

Speaking at a forum on child online safety, Teo described a potential "differentiated landscape" where access is contingent upon a platform's ability to provide a secure environment for children. "There may be some other services that either have not been willing or able to do it, then as a society, we think that it is probably better to block access for under-18s to these kinds of services," she stated.

Teo stressed that restricting access is not the government's initial preference. The primary goal is to collaborate with platforms to bolster safety features, enabling children to navigate digital services more securely. This approach aligns with earlier proposals for tiered or age-based access, allowing younger children limited access while gradually permitting older teenagers entry as they develop greater online maturity.

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But there may be some other services that either have not been willing or able to do it, then as a society, we think that it is probably better to block access for under-18s to these kinds of services.

Beyond content moderation, Teo highlighted the need for platforms to take responsibility for features influencing user behavior, such as recommendation algorithms and design elements that encourage constant engagement. She emphasized that ensuring children's online safety requires a collective effort involving government, industry, educators, parents, and young people, acknowledging the growing uncertainty many parents face in guiding their children online.

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The idea that we can kick them off (social media) completely is not a very realistic one.