As Singapore considers how best to protect young people online, an expert panel convened by the Ministry of Health (MOH) is advocating for a more nuanced approach than an age-based social media ban.

On 30 July 2026, MOH released the findings and recommendations of its Expert Panel on the Mental Health Impact of Social Media Use. Co-chaired by Associate Professor Jungup Lee (NUS Department of Social Work), Co-Director of the NUS Social Service Research Centre, the panel found that young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of social media during adolescence, and that problematic social media use is more strongly linked to poorer mental well-being than screen time alone.

As A/P Lee noted, "It is not only how long a young person is online but the nature of their relationship with social media that matters."

The panel recommends making social media safer by design through addressing features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithmically-curated feeds and unsafe direct messaging, while strengthening age assurance measures and digital literacy in youths.

Read the full report here.