29/11/2025
๐๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. ๐๐จ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ?
In her recent interview with CNA, our Clinical Psychologist, Dr Annabelle, shares why countries like Australia are pushing to ban social media for younger teens, and what this means for Singaporean parents.
Early screen use affects cognitive development, social skills and how children learn to interact in real life. When kids spend more time on screens than with people, it can shape their confidence, behaviour and even how they function later at work or in school.
Research also links higher screen time to anxiety, depression, irritability, emotional dysregulation and sleep problems. Keeping teens off social media until theyโre older can support healthier mental health, better sleep and reduce exposure to bullying, scams and unsafe content.
But when rules are too strict, the โforbidden fruitโ effect may kick in.
What helps is parent-child communication, guidance, and clear values around respect and safety online.
Try this when your child brings home something theyโve seen or heard:
โข Ask them what they understand about it
โข Explain the concept in age-appropriate terms
โข Invite questions and stay open
โข Set firm but respectful boundaries
โข Remind them that understanding something does not mean they are ready to engage in it
You cannot control everything online, but you can shape how your child thinks, chooses and responds.
For more on digital wellbeing, youth mental health, parenting support and screen-time guidance, watch Dr Annabelleโs CNA interview on YouTube.
