Take steps to tackle root causes of social media addiction: Forum

I refer to the article on Singapore’s talks with Australia over its social media ban for users under 16 (Singapore in talks with Australia over social media ban for young users, Jan 7).

Excessive use of social media has been linked to poorer mental health among the young, including low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. It has also played a part in the self-radicalisation of youth and adults here.

However, a blanket ban may not be the most effective solution.

Social media addiction stems largely from the addictive features that have been deliberately designed into these platforms, such as infinite scroll, constant notifications, and algorithms that relentlessly tailor content to individual preferences to maximise engagement.

Therefore, I urge the Government to consider the following restrictions:

• Disable infinite scroll: Mandate that social media apps disable infinite scroll and limit the amount of content served to users within a single session. This would let users disengage more easily.
• Limit notification frequency: Allow social media apps to send notifications at most once a day. This would help break the addictive feedback loop once users have disengaged.
• Restrict algorithmic personalisation: Require social media apps to deliver mainstream content that is popular in Singapore over personalised recommendations. This would prevent people from being sent down rabbit holes where they can be served harmful or extremist content with no explanation.

Adopting these measures would address the root causes of social media addiction, while at the same time allowing young Singaporeans access to social media apps as valuable tools for communication and learning.

Lim Jia Yi

Source: The Business Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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