Update on Study on Effectiveness of Mandating Age Limits for Social Media Access

116 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information whether the Ministry can provide an update on the study on the effectiveness of mandating age limits for social media access.

Mrs Josephine Teo: There is a wide range of age assurance solutions on the market, including age verification, age estimation and age inference solutions. However, none of these measures are foolproof. A child can still circumvent these measures, such as through using an adult's account to access age-inappropriate content.

Nonetheless, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has taken the first step to require designated App Distribution Services, also known as app stores, to implement age assurance measures as part of the Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services. The age assurance measures seek to reduce the likelihood of young users accessing and downloading age-inappropriate apps of all types, beyond just social media apps. Designated app stores are expected to implement these age assurance measures by 31 March 2026. At the outset, they are required to be able to minimally ascertain whether users are under 18.

Later this year, we will also begin to engage designated social media services on similar age assurance requirements. This comes on top of existing protective measures for children under the current Code of Practice for Online Safety for Social Media Services.

Like many parents, we believe it is important to protect children and youth from inappropriate content when they go online. Age assurance measures are useful but insufficient. This is why MDDI will also work with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, as well as community partners, to better support parents with information resources and actionable tips.