Singapore mulls stricter age assurance measures for social platforms, says minister Teo

Singapore may soon require social media platforms to implement age assurance systems, as the government looks for “meaningful ways of intervening” to keep younger users safe online, Josephine Teo, minister for digital development and information said.

Speaking on CNA’s "Deep dive" podcast, Teo noted that while app stores will be mandated to introduce age verification measures by March 2026, her ministry is now studying whether similar requirements should extend to social media platforms.

The move follows prime minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day rally speech earlier this month, where he flagged online harms as a growing concern and stressed the need to balance the benefits of digital connectivity with the risks to children.

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In the podcast, Teo drew a parallel to cinemas, where attendants screen moviegoers’ ages before entry, noting that similar checks should be applied in the digital space.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) told CNA that it will begin engaging designated social media services on adopting similar requirements, while ensuring that user data remains protected.

App stores, meanwhile, will need to use mechanisms such as SingPass or credit cards to block users under 18 from downloading age-inappropriate apps.

Teo noted that safeguards cannot end at the point of download. Beyond screen time, the concern lies in the type of content children encounter on these platforms.

She highlighted the need to work with social media companies on data-driven approaches that can nudge healthier usage and ensure the content served remains age-appropriate.

Discussions with social platforms will also assess which methods of verification are “robust”, and how these can be practically implemented.

Her remarks build on Singapore’s broader push for science-backed digital policies, with existing guidelines recommending zero screen time for children under 18 months. However, Teo acknowledged that content exposure is a far more complex area.

She stressed that, regardless of ongoing research, the priority is to shield children from harmful content such as sexualised imagery, cyberbullying, and excessive violence that could normalise unhealthy behaviour. Within these boundaries, she said, authorities can collaborate with social media platforms to moderate exposure while also supporting parents in building open communication with their children about what they encounter online.

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This focus on age-appropriate content and digital safeguards comes amid wider government efforts to protect children from risky online behaviour, including dangerous social media challenges flagged by the Ministry of Education (MOE) earlier this year.

In March, MOE urged parents to monitor children participating in trends such as the ‘Blackout challenge’ and ‘Skull breaker challenge’, which are potentially fatal. The advisory encouraged parents to discuss the risks of these trends, stay informed, and guide children to seek help if they or their friends are exposed to risky online behaviour.

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