Daily time limits on social media among mandatory safeguards considered for teens in S’pore

Singapore is preparing to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting teenagers from the potential harms of excessive social media use, with a possible daily time limit for platform usage among the proposed measures. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo confirmed during an interview on August 28 that the government plans to require social media platforms to implement stronger safeguards for minors, potentially including a daily time restriction. If platforms fail to adopt these measures, Singapore may increase the minimum age of access to 18, she stated. The discussion around these safeguards emerged following Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s announcement in his National Day Rally speech in August, where he emphasized the need for stricter controls over social media platforms serving under-18 users. This marks a shift from previous reliance on parental oversight and voluntary compliance, towards legally mandated protections. The government aims to ensure that features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds, known to contribute to prolonged screen time, are addressed through regulatory intervention. Teo outlined that the proposed safeguards would focus on preventing harmful interactions, particularly with strangers, and limiting exposure to addictive elements of social media. She mentioned that while Meta has agreed to certain restrictions in a recent U.S. settlement, including a two-hour daily limit for combined use of Facebook and Instagram, the specifics of implementation may vary in Singapore. For instance, Meta allows parents to disable autoplay, whereas Singapore seeks to have autoplay disabled by default, with parental override options. The government is also considering the introduction of a daily time limit as a means to counteract the effects of infinite scroll, a feature that encourages continuous engagement without a clear endpoint. Teo noted that while there is no universally agreed-upon "magic number" for acceptable usage, the goal is to remind users that their time online should not overshadow other aspects of their lives. She stressed that the primary objective is not to fixate on a specific duration but to promote healthier digital habits. An expert panel convened by the Ministry of Health recently found that one in three users aged 15 to 17 spends more than three hours daily on social media, with one in six users aged 10 to 24 showing signs of problematic use. Based on this data, Teo suggested that three hours is likely too long and that the daily limit should be lower. The findings underscore the urgency of introducing measures that curb excessive use and mitigate associated risks to mental health. Age assurance mechanisms are another key component of the proposed reforms. Singapore already mandates that app stores implement age verification processes, using either age estimation, age inference, or age verification based on official records. The government intends to extend these requirements to social media platforms, ensuring that users meet the minimum age criteria before accessing content. Platforms that resist or fail to comply may face increased age thresholds, raising the minimum access age from the current industry standard of 13 to 18. The upcoming legislative changes will be introduced early in 2027, with enforcement supported by mandatory age checks. These measures aim to align Singapore’s approach with international efforts, such as the $18 billion U.S. settlement involving Meta, which includes restrictions on autoplay, direct messages from strangers, and algorithmic feeds for underage users. While Singapore may draw inspiration from these developments, Teo indicated that the exact implementation details could differ based on local context and regulatory priorities. As the government moves forward with drafting the necessary laws, the focus remains on balancing protection with flexibility, ensuring that platforms can innovate while safeguarding the well-being of younger users. The outcome of these deliberations will shape the future landscape of digital regulation in Singapore, influencing how technology companies operate within the country’s evolving legal framework.