S’pore govt may raise minimum social media age beyond 13 if platform safeguards remain inadequate: PM Wong

The Singapore Government will consider additional restrictions on social media platforms if existing safeguards remain inadequate, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Aug. 23.

Children and teenagers particularly vulnerable

Speaking at the 2026 National Day Rally, PM Wong noted that while social media has its benefits, including creating opportunities and helping people stay connected with family and friends, it is not without its downsides.

Today, one in six young people aged 10 to 24 in Singapore shows signs of problematic social media use, he said.

Some can spend six to seven hours a day on social media, sometimes staying up until the early hours of the morning, he added.

According to PM Wong, children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable as their brains are still developing.

They are also more susceptible to social pressures and can be more easily hooked by features designed to keep users constantly engaged, he said.

Government to consider additional restrictions

Currently, users generally have to be at least 13 years old to create an account on a social media platform.

However, PM Wong noted that enforcement is largely left to the platforms, which mostly rely on users to declare their own ages.

"And we know this is not working well," PM Wong stated. "When I visit primary schools, I am struck by how many children are already active on social media."

"Self-declaration is just not good enough. They will have to put in place robust and reliable checks so that the minimum age is properly set and enforced, and our children are genuinely protected."

For teenagers aged 13 and above, social media can also have negative effects.

"For them, our immediate priority is to make social media safer by design," said PM Wong.

Many social media platforms use features designed to keep users scrolling, clicking, and returning to the platforms.

Such features can be difficult for adults to resist, with the risks potentially greater for teenagers, he said.

Stronger safeguards will therefore have to be built in for younger users.

"If a platform wants to serve young users in Singapore, it must meet these requirements," PM Wong said.

If its safeguards remain inadequate, the government will consider additional restrictions, including raising the minimum age for accessing the platform beyond 13.