Experts suggest social media page breaks, post limits, ‘minor mode’ master switch to protect teens

The safeguards will need to address problematic features including infinite scroll and video auto-play, algorithmically-curated feeds, and visible ‘like’ counts.

Published Sep 06, 2026, 05:00 AM

Updated Sep 06, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – Local authorities are planning to double down on social media safeguards to protect teens’ mental health, as pressure on platforms mounts globally.

Specifically, the safeguards for users aged between 13 and 17 will need to address problematic features that have been identified in a report published in July by a Ministry of Health expert panel.

These features include infinite scroll and video auto-play that keep users engaged for longer than intended; algorithmically-curated feeds that amplify exposure to distressing or harmful content; and visible “like” counts that encourage social comparison and validation-seeking.

Legislative changes will be tabled early in 2027 to facilitate enforcement through age checks, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo during an interview on Aug 28.

The Straits Times spoke to experts about the potential safeguards and how they might look like in practice.

1. Daily time limits on social media

Teo said daily time limits on social media platforms serving teen users here are being “seriously discussed” as they introduce a natural stop point to counter infinite scrolling.

It is among the measures that Meta will be implementing for teen users in the United States, as part of the tech giant’s US $18 billion (S$23 billion) landmark settlement with several US states and territories to resolve claims that Facebook and Instagram have harmed children.

A combined limit of two hours on Facebook and Instagram will apply to teen users in the US, but this will drop to one hour per platform if YouTube and TikTok also agree to implement a time limit.

Experts said daily time limits can be tricky if platforms enforce it separately as having more platforms will increase the total daily social media limits.

An hour limit per platform for six platforms would already add up to six hours of social media use daily, said Andrew Yee, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Under Singapore’s Code of Practice for Online Safety, six platforms – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, HardwareZone, X and YouTube – are already required to minimise local users’ exposure to harmful content through content moderation. These major platforms will also likely be the first to implement teen safeguards.

Yee added that time limits can be counterproductive for teens who use social media to learn. For instance, healthy interests can be developed by following guitar tutorials on YouTube.

Teo has urged against using the number as a marker for acceptable use. Instead, the focus should be on the limit acting as a reminder for teens to engage in other aspects of their life.

2. A master switch on the device’s operating system

China’s Minor Mode acts as a master switch on devices for parents to control their teenagers’ access to social media apps. It is part of a device’s operating system.

Major Chinese phone brands including Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi were directed by the Cyberspace Administration of China to develop the master switch in 2025.

App stores were also involved to protect young users. If a teen’s device is set to Minor Mode, app stores must direct the teen user to a curated app store meant for his or her age group.

The Chinese government has also recommended that parents set the daily screen time limit of two hours for users aged 16 and 17, and one hour for children under 16, as well as block the use of non-essential apps between 10pm and 6am.

China’s Minor Mode could offer a model for Singapore to emulate, said Bryan Tan, former president of the Internet Society Singapore Chapter, and author of Halsbury’s Laws of Singapore – Information Technology.

“However, Singapore is very different and might not have China’s level of influence over the various stakeholders in the tech industry. The industry might push back if the solution is too difficult to execute, or creates too much friction for users,” he added.

3. User-controlled content personalisation

Some experts have suggested that social media firms let users control what they want customised for them rather than let algorithms do all the selection.

Algorithmically-curated feeds, a key feature on all social media platforms, are content selected for users based on what they have interacted with in the past. But algorithms may amplify a user’s exposure to distressing or harmful content.

When such personalisation is tied to maximising engagement through infinite scroll, it becomes concerning, said Chew Han Ei, adjunct senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies and associate director at the Singapore Management University’s Office of Impact.

This is exacerbated when users have little control over the recommendation system, Chew added.

Yee suggested that platforms give users the option to customise and design their own experience, citing settings provided by video streaming site YouTube as an example.

The platform allows users to remove recommended content from their homepage by turning off the watch history feature. This forces users to use the search bar to look for videos.

“This adds friction, which reduces the chance of being trapped in a cycle of mindless scrolling,” said Yee, who suggested that this be made the default for users.

“When set up this way, browsing becomes more intentional. One can still keep in touch with their interests, but every session is goal-oriented.”

4. Daily limit on number of posts, page breaks

A daily limit on the number of posts or a page break resembles the “You’re all caught up” feature that Instagram famously launched in 2018 for posts within a 48-hour window. It is to let users know that they have viewed all recent posts from their social connections.

Facebook quietly rolled out a similar feature on its mobile app later.

However, over time, Instagram and Facebook altered the mechanism by introducing suggested posts, an algorithmic feature that leads users to ads and recommended content from accounts they do not follow, instead of stopping their feed.

Chew suggested that a form of “You’re all caught up” be re-introduced on social media platforms for teen users to interrupt infinite scroll.

Platforms could present content in finite batches with a clear endpoint, said Chew. “Users can then actively choose whether to load more content, providing a natural stopping point and an opportunity to decide whether to continue,” he added.

5. Turning off video auto-play by default

Video auto-play works by playing content automatically and continuously without requiring users to press a play button.

Auto-play will have to be turned off by default for teen users in Singapore, said Teo.

In this instance, Singapore’s approach will differ from Meta’s implementation plans for teens in the US, where auto-play will still be on by default, but teens will have the option to turn it off. Parents can also adjust this setting for their children.

6. No direct messages from strangers

According to a 2022 survey done by non-profit Common Sense Media, more than half of girls aged between 11 and 15 using Instagram and Snapchat in the US have been contacted by strangers in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.

Recognising the potential harms, Instagram in 2024 launched Teen Accounts, which only allows teens to receive messages from accounts that they follow or have previously contacted, among other safeguards. But registration for Teen Accounts is voluntary.

Singapore will be looking to require social media platforms to block strangers from sending direct messages to teen users.

The MOH expert panel reported that direct messaging functions may expose young users to safety risks, including cyberbullying and harassment. It added that the use of anonymous or pseudonym accounts may further reduce accountability and make harmful online behaviour more difficult to detect and address.

7. Turning off ‘like’ counts, follower metrics by default

Social feedback mechanisms such as “likes” and follower metrics have become a staple on almost all social media platforms, allowing users to show their appreciation for content.

Singapore’s MOH panel of experts identified this as a problematic feature. Visible “like” counts and follower metrics encourage social comparison and validation-seeking behaviour, with potential negative effects on self-esteem and emotional well-being, said the panel.

Singapore has said it will protect young users from this, but did not specify how.

Meanwhile, Meta’s changes in the US will prevent teens from seeing the number of likes and reactions on Instagram and Facebook posts – which includes both their own, and those from others – by default.

Sarah Koh is a journalist on the technology beat at The Straits Times. She takes an interest in the development of consumer tech and the impact of AI on society.

这些保障措施需要解决一些问题功能，包括无限滚动和视频自动播放、算法筛选的信息流以及可见的“点赞”数量。

发布于 2026 年 9 月 6 日上午 5:00

更新于2026年9月6日上午5:00

新加坡——随着全球社交媒体平台面临的压力越来越大，当地政府计划加倍加强社交媒体安全保障，以保护青少年的心理健康。

具体而言，针对 13 至 17 岁用户的保护措施需要解决卫生部专家小组在 7 月份发布的一份报告中指出的问题特征。

这些功能包括无限滚动和视频自动播放，使用户停留时间超过预期；算法筛选的信息流，增加了用户接触令人不安或有害内容的机会；以及可见的“点赞”数量，鼓励用户进行社会比较和寻求认同。

数字发展及新闻部长杨莉明在8月28日接受采访时表示，将于2027年初提交立法修改方案，以通过年龄检查来加强执法。

《海峡时报》采访了专家，探讨了潜在的保障措施以及这些措施在实践中可能采取的形式。

1. 社交媒体每日使用时间限制

Teo表示，面向青少年用户的社交媒体平台每日使用时间限制正在被“认真讨论”，因为这会引入一个自然的停止点，以遏制无休止的滚动浏览。

这是 Meta 将在美国为青少年用户实施的措施之一，也是这家科技巨头与美国多个州和地区达成的 180 亿美元（230 亿新元）里程碑式和解协议的一部分，该协议旨在解决 Facebook 和 Instagram 对儿童造成伤害的指控。

在美国，Facebook 和 Instagram 将对青少年用户实行两小时的综合使用时间限制，但如果 YouTube 和 TikTok 也同意实施时间限制，则每个平台的使用时间将减少到一小时。

专家表示，如果各个平台分别执行每日使用时长限制，可能会比较棘手，因为平台越多，每日社交媒体使用时长的总限制就越高。

南洋理工大学 (NTU) 黄金辉传播与信息学院助理教授 Andrew Yee 表示，如果每个平台每天限时一小时，那么六个平台加起来每天使用社交媒体的时间就将达到六个小时。

根据新加坡《网络安全行为准则》，Facebook、Instagram、TikTok、HardwareZone、X 和 YouTube 这六个平台已被要求通过内容审核来最大限度地减少本地用户接触有害内容的机会。这些主要平台也可能率先实施青少年保护措施。

Yee补充说，对于利用社交媒体学习的青少年来说，时间限制可能会适得其反。例如，通过观看YouTube上的吉他教程，可以培养健康的兴趣爱好。

Teo呼吁不要将饮酒量作为衡量可接受饮酒量的指标。相反，重点应该放在提醒青少年参与生活的其他方面。

2. 设备操作系统上的主开关

中国的“未成年人模式”相当于设备上的一个总开关，供家长控制青少年访问社交媒体应用。它是设备操作系统的一部分。

中国国家互联网信息办公室指示华为、OPPO和小米等中国主要手机品牌在2025年之前开发出主交换机。

应用商店也参与其中，以保护未成年用户。如果青少年的设备设置为未成年人模式，应用商店必须引导青少年用户访问专为其年龄段设计的精选应用商店。

中国政府还建议家长将16岁和17岁用户的每日屏幕使用时间限制为2小时，16岁以下儿童的每日屏幕使用时间限制为1小时，并禁止在晚上10点至早上6点之间使用非必要的应用程序。

新加坡互联网协会前主席、《新加坡信息技术法律大全》作者布莱恩·谭表示，中国的“小模式”可以为新加坡提供一个效仿的模式。

“然而，新加坡的情况截然不同，它可能不像中国那样对科技行业的各利益相关方拥有强大的影响力。如果解决方案执行起来过于困难，或者给用户带来太多不便，业界可能会抵制，”他补充道。

3. 用户控制的内容个性化

一些专家建议，社交媒体公司应该让用户控制他们想要的个性化内容，而不是让算法来决定所有的选择。

算法推荐是所有社交媒体平台的一项关键功能，它根据用户过去的互动记录为其推送内容。但算法也可能增加用户接触令人不安或有害内容的机会。

新加坡管理大学政策研究所兼职高级研究员兼影响力办公室副主任周汉艾表示，当这种个性化与通过无限滚动最大限度地提高参与度联系起来时，就令人担忧了。

Chew补充说，当用户对推荐系统几乎没有控制权时，这种情况会更加严重。

Yee建议平台应该让用户能够自定义和设计自己的体验，并以视频流媒体网站YouTube提供的设置为例进行说明。

该平台允许用户通过关闭观看历史记录功能来移除主页上的推荐内容。这样一来，用户就必须使用搜索栏来查找视频。

Yee表示：“这增加了摩擦，从而降低了陷入无意识滚动循环的可能性。”他建议将此设为用户的默认设置。

“这样设置后，浏览行为会变得更有目的性。用户仍然可以关注自己的兴趣，但每次浏览都以目标为导向。”

4. 每日帖子数量限制、分页符

每日帖子数量限制或页面切换功能类似于 Instagram 在 2018 年推出的“已全部查看”功能，该功能会显示 48 小时内的所有帖子。其目的是告知用户他们已查看社交好友的所有最新帖子。

Facebook 随后悄悄地在其移动应用上推出了类似功能。

然而，随着时间的推移，Instagram 和 Facebook 通过引入推荐帖子这一算法功能改变了这一机制，该功能会将用户引导至他们未关注的帐户的广告和推荐内容，而不是停止他们的信息流。

Chew建议在社交媒体平台上重新引入“你已经全部看完”之类的提示，以打断青少年用户的无限滚动。

Chew表示，平台可以分批次呈现内容，并设定明确的结束点。“这样一来，用户可以主动选择是否加载更多内容，从而提供一个自然的停止点，并让用户有机会决定是否继续浏览。”他补充道。

5. 默认关闭视频自动播放

视频自动播放的工作原理是自动连续播放内容，而无需用户按下播放按钮。

Teo表示，新加坡的青少年用户必须默认关闭自动播放功能。

在这种情况下，新加坡的做法将与Meta在美国针对青少年的实施方案有所不同。在美国，自动播放功能仍将默认开启，但青少年可以选择将其关闭。家长也可以为孩子调整此设置。

6. 禁止接收陌生人的直接消息

根据非营利组织 Common Sense Media 在 2022 年进行的一项调查，美国使用 Instagram 和 Snapchat 的 11 至 15 岁女孩中，超过一半的人曾被陌生人以令她们感到不舒服的方式联系过。

意识到潜在的危害，Instagram 于 2024 年推出了青少年账户功能，该功能仅允许青少年接收来自他们关注或之前联系过的账户的消息，并采取了其他一些安全措施。但注册青少年账户是自愿的。

新加坡将寻求要求社交媒体平台阻止陌生人向青少年用户发送私信。

卫生部专家小组报告称，即时通讯功能可能使年轻用户面临安全风险，包括网络欺凌和骚扰。报告还指出，使用匿名或化名账户可能会进一步降低责任追究，并使有害的网络行为更难被发现和处理。

7. 默认关闭“点赞”计数和粉丝指标

“点赞”和粉丝数量等社交反馈机制已成为几乎所有社交媒体平台的标配，使用户能够表达对内容的喜爱。

新加坡卫生部专家小组认为这是一个问题。该小组表示，公开的“点赞”数和粉丝数会助长社交比较和寻求认同的行为，可能对自尊和情绪健康产生负面影响。

新加坡方面表示将保护年轻用户免受此类侵害，但并未具体说明如何保护。

与此同时，Meta 在美国的更改将默认阻止青少年在 Instagram 和 Facebook 帖子中看到点赞数和互动数（包括他们自己的帖子和其他人的帖子）。

Sarah Koh是《海峡时报》的科技记者。她关注消费科技的发展以及人工智能对社会的影响。