Growing Concerns Over Digital Safety Highlight Need for Better Reporting Tools and Public Awareness Initiatives
SINGAPORE: On Thursday (July 21), parents and youths expressed that social media platforms could better address Singapore’s online safety needs amid rising concerns. During a public consultation on online safety, several participants emphasized that the reporting features on these platforms could be improved to assist more users in reporting harmful content and providing feedback.
One participant shared her frustration when attempting to report harmful content, finding it challenging because it did not fit into any of the categories available in the reporting tool. Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo noted that awareness of user safety tools varied significantly among participants.
“That highlights the need for greater awareness of these safety tools to be made available to users,” she stated. “Even among those who are aware of these tools, there is a stronger desire for social media services to be more responsive to their individual reporting needs and the community’s conditions,” she added.
This focus group discussion was the third held as part of a month-long public consultation launched on July 13, attracting around 60 participants. The consultation aims to gather feedback on two proposals announced by the Ministry of Communications and Information in June.
The first proposal calls for designated social media services with significant reach to establish comprehensive processes to enhance online safety for all users, with added protections for those under 18. This includes implementing community standards and content moderation systems to reduce users’ exposure to harmful content while proactively identifying and removing child sexual exploitation material and terrorist content.
The second proposal suggests that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) may instruct social media services to remove specified types of “egregious content,” including issues related to sexual harm, self-harm, public health, public security, and religious or racial intolerance.
Participants also urged for increased public education to raise awareness about online safety. This is particularly important in addressing gaming addiction and the growing presence of harmful content on social media, such as religious extremism and dangerous trends on platforms like TikTok.
Suggestions included involving parent support groups and community stakeholders to broaden outreach efforts. Another recommendation was to raise the age threshold for additional safeguards to 21, as the current proposal only applies to users under 18.
In addition to engaging the public, the Ministry of Communications and Information has been collaborating with tech companies and key stakeholder groups, including parents, youths, community partners, and academics. The public consultation will continue until August 10, with members of the public invited to submit their responses through a survey on the REACH website. More details regarding the proposed Codes of Practice can also be found in the MCI’s public consultation paper published online.
