Singapore– Teenagers in Singapore may soon lose access to features like autoplay and infinite scroll, as the Government pushes social media platforms to add stronger protections for young users.
According to a news report, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo shared these plans in a media interview on Aug 28. Her comments expanded on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech on Aug 23, where he warned that children and teens are “more easily hooked by features designed to keep them constantly engaged.” If platforms fail to act, PM Wong said the minimum age for access could be raised.
What’s Changing and When
Singapore aims to roll out the necessary legislative changes by early next year. The rules will cover six designated platforms that many Filipino families abroad use daily:
- TikTok
- HardwareZone
- X
- YouTube
Proving Your Age
The first target is enforcing the minimum age of 13 that most platforms already set for themselves. All six services will be required to introduce age assurance measures to stop younger children from creating and managing accounts.
Teo said these checks can be done through:
- Age verification — confirming identity directly
- Age estimation — assessing likely age
- Age inference — drawing conclusions from user data
The same approach already applies to app stores. Platforms propose a method, the ministry reviews it, and regular audits follow to keep things honest.
Autoplay Off, With a Parent’s Override
For teen users, autoplay would be switched off by default. Parents, however, can turn it back on if they feel their child is ready.
“No two teens are alike — they mature at different speeds,” Teo explained, adding that parents are often best placed to judge their own child’s needs.
A Daily “Stop Point”
To tackle endless scrolling, the Government wants a daily time limit that acts as a natural pause. The exact figure hasn’t been set, but Teo hinted it would likely fall under three hours.
She stressed that the number itself shouldn’t become the whole conversation. The goal, she said, is to remind young people to enjoy life beyond the screen.
What If Platforms Say No?
The message to companies is firm. If a platform can’t or won’t build these safeguards, the Government will bar under-18s from using it entirely.
Teo compared the plan to “training wheels” — a service that comes with support now, and a fuller experience once a young person turns 18.