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SINGAPORE: Singapore\u2019s approach to social media restrictions for young children is \u201cmore demanding, more rigorous\u201d than a blanket ban, said Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam on Wednesday (May 6).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take a different approach, in that we also want something that is more effective, a more durable approach that will withstand the test of time and the test of evolution of the technology.”<\/p>\n
Mdm Rahayu was responding to a supplementary question raised in parliament by MP Vikram Nair (PAP-Sembawang), who said that the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) should take a \u201charder stance\u201d and \u201cdraw a firm boundary\u201d in social media restrictions on youths, like some countries have.<\/p>\n
Mdm Rahayu agreed that there are some specific features and dimensions of social media platforms that affect youths, but the ministry\u2019s approach is to target these specifics.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur approach has always been one that is outcomes-driven, and we have been building progressively on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singapore has introduced several age-related restrictions to social media use, she said. This includes a Code of Practice for Online Safety for social media services, age assurance requirements for apps, and the annual reporting obligations that social media platforms must submit to the ministry. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMoving forward, we are actually going to be extending the assurance measures to the designated social media services, and looking beyond the content to the design features.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that Singapore\u2019s approach is to target these design features that cause specific harms to younger users..<\/p>\n
In contrast, a blanket ban, said Mdm Rahayu, \u201cmay not even solve the problem\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, she added that the ministry is not ruling out such a ban and will \u201cdo whatever it takes to protect our young ones\u201d.<\/p>\n
She noted that the idea of a social media ban is not a globally accepted position, referencing how Australia had amended its legislation to be more targeted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n