Social media platforms need to do more to protect young users: IMDA

The Infocomm Media Development Authority on Feb 17 released the inaugural Online Safety Assessment Report on social media platforms, aimed at allowing users, including parents, to make informed decisions for themselves and their children.

This is the latest in the Government's efforts to enhance online safety for Singapore users.

The socmed platforms - Facebook, HardwareZone, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube - are required to put in place system-level measures to minimise users' access to harmful content.

There is no decision yet to expand the platforms to include other social media services such as Reddit or Discord.

Each platform was rated in areas such as accountability as well as user reporting and resolution based on Singapore-specific data submitted in the online safety reports.

Although the socmed platforms have largely put in place safety measures for all users, they need to do more to improve the effectiveness of their measures in protecting children from harmful and age-inappropriate content.

Harmful content includes material that is sexual, violent, related to self-harm, and cyber-bullying.

"For me, the most significant finding is the content that children are still inevitably exposed to - even when they are not pretending to be adults," said Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo.

The platforms need to take greater responsibility to protect children and the Government will continue to enhance public education efforts to ensure Singaporeans can go online safely and securely, and safeguard themselves against online harm and threats.

The socmed platforms also need to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of their response to user reports.

Most platforms took about five days or more to act on user reports of harmful content.