Authorities study limits on direct messaging and auto-play to better protect children
Singapore is weighing tougher safeguards for young social media users, with features such as direct messaging and video auto-play now under closer scrutiny. The move signals a shift from focusing mainly on harmful content to also examining how platform design itself may expose children to risk and addictive use.
Focus Expands Beyond Harmful Content
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Singapore is studying whether certain system-level social media features should be restricted for children, including direct messaging and auto-play. She said the Government has already focused on reducing children’s exposure to inappropriate content, but platform design and built-in features now also need stronger safety protections. Singapore is discussing these changes with major platforms, and any measures may differ by service because each platform is built differently.
Why These Features Are Under Review
The concern is that direct messaging can expose children and teens to grooming, bullying, and unwanted contact from strangers, while auto-play and infinite scroll can encourage compulsive use and excessive screen time. Teo said parents are especially worried about how easily strangers can reach young users online. Rather than immediately copying blanket age bans adopted or considered elsewhere, Singapore appears to be exploring platform-specific safeguards that reduce risk while still allowing young people to learn how to navigate digital spaces.
Age Assurance Is Becoming The Starting Point
A key part of Singapore’s approach is age assurance. Under IMDA’s app distribution services rules, designated app stores are expected to implement age assurance measures by March 31, 2026, to reduce the chance that users under 18 can download age-inappropriate apps. The Government has also said it plans to engage designated social media services later in 2026 on similar age assurance requirements, because teen protections cannot work properly if platforms cannot accurately verify users’ ages.
Pressure On Platforms Is Already Rising
Singapore’s push comes as authorities sharpen oversight of major services under the 2023 Code of Practice for Online Safety, which requires designated social media platforms to proactively detect and remove egregious harmful content and report annually to IMDA. In IMDA’s latest assessment, X was found to have fallen short in proactively detecting and removing child sexual exploitation and abuse material, while TikTok was found lacking on terrorism content. Both were placed under enhanced supervision and must provide regular updates on corrective measures.
A More Flexible Model Than A Full Ban
Singapore’s approach suggests it is trying to strike a middle ground between child protection and digital participation. Teo has pointed to overseas examples such as Estonia’s preference for stronger safeguards over outright bans, while also watching how jurisdictions like New York are restricting algorithm-driven recommendations for young users. That means Singapore’s next phase of online safety policy is likely to focus less on a total block and more on age checks, safer default settings, and tighter controls over features that heighten risk for children.
Singapore’s review of direct messaging, auto-play, and other platform features shows that the debate over child safety online is moving beyond content moderation alone. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the broader message is that governments are increasingly scrutinizing how social media products are designed, not just what appears on them. The outcome in Singapore could shape a more targeted model for child protection in the region, one that aims to reduce harm without fully cutting young users off from the digital world.
Sources: Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Online Safety, Child Social Media Protection, Age Assurance Singapore, IMDA Social Media, Direct Messaging Risks, Auto Play Addiction
