SINGAPORE – Spending about four hours a day on social media affected the confidence of entrepreneur Lim Ee Ling’s two daughters, at a time when they were younger than 12.

Her two daughters, now 17 and 20, currently regulate their own social media usage.

“Back then, Instagram was just sharing photos, so we didn’t know of any potential harms. But my girls told me that we should have kept closer control because they did feel the effects of wasted time and some comparison or personal image implications,” she said.

Lim feels that children should be gradually introduced to age-appropriate content online, especially on platforms using algorithmic recommendations and endless scrolling - tools designed to keep users looking at their screen.

Parents with similar concerns about social media and digital spaces can attend an upcoming discussion focused on building child-safe digital environments, which will be held from 8.45am to 1pm on July 25 at the NTUC Centre on 1 Marina Boulevard.

The focus group discussion, which is organised by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and The Straits Times, will gather participants’ views on the Government’s plans to make social media safer for children.

It also aims to raise public awareness on societal efforts to make digital spaces child-friendly.

Participants will get the chance to share their thoughts on issues such as whether children below the age of 13 should be allowed access to social media platforms and what safeguards should be in place to ensure age-appropriate experiences for older children up to age 18.

The discussion will include a panel comprising Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, chief of IMH’s department of development psychiatry Lim Choon Guan and TOUCH Community Services chief executive James Tan.

It will be moderated by The Straits Times associate editor Karamjit Kaur.