On 25 August 2025, the Minister for Digital Development and Information mentioned that the government is exploring effective ways to engage with social media platforms to ensure a safer digital environment for younger users.
One option that the government is currently considering is for social media platforms to implement age assurance/verification measures to appropriately match user content with their actual age.
In more detail
Age assurance measures
Age assurance measures refer to systems or processes to establish a person’s age or age range, including age estimation and age verification. This is in line with the approach adopted by various governments and regulators worldwide, as well as by the Ministry for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) earlier this year, to ensure that online services are age-appropriate and tailored to children.
While designated app distribution services are currently subject to age assurance obligations (see our client alert from January 2025 for more details), the MDDI is currently assessing whether these obligations should apply to social media services as well.
The MDDI will be initiating discussions with designated social media services regarding age assurance requirements (and the implementation of these requirements), ensuring that these measures also safeguard users’ personal data appropriately. The intent is for the authorities to work together with social media platforms to moderate exposure to inappropriate content on social media.
Online safety
The Minister also shared that the Online Safety (Relief & Accountability) Bill will be tabled after parliament reopens next month. See our client alert from April 2025 for more details on this bill.
The Online Safety Commission, a new government agency dedicated to assisting victims of online harms, is expected to be set up in the first half of next year.
Key takeaways
Singapore’s latest initiative is part of a broader global trend to enhance protection for children against digital harms (see our client alert from January 2025 for more details on recent discussions on a potential social media ban for children).
If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised above, please reach out to your usual Baker McKenzie contact.
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