Online Dating Platforms that Exploit Young Persons

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what measures are in place to protect teenagers and young persons from online platforms, such as TheSugarBook, that aim to capitalise on their emotional or financial vulnerabilities and exploit them sexually.

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether online platforms, such as TheSugarBook, are legal in Singapore and what actions will be taken to ensure vice activities do not proliferate through such a channel.

Mr Speaker, Sir, sugar dating platforms like The SugarBook commoditise and devalue relationships under the cover of a "mutually beneficial arrangement". Relationships become transactional: an exchange of money and gifts in return for companionship and "other" services.

But what is of greater concern is that the site targets young people who are in their late teens and early 20s, even while they are still students at polytechnics or universities, exposing them to the risks of being exploited and abused. These transactions are fundamentally imbalanced in favour of older and wealthier people. Young women, for instance, may feel pressurised to comply with their wishes or demands and risk physical or sexual harm if they reject them.

The Police will keep a close eye on The SugarBook, as well as the individuals who use its services. For instance, if there is any procurement of sexual services for payment, the Police will take enforcement action under the Women’s Charter, including possibly against the website and its owners.

While we collectively object to such websites, the more effective and enduring solution lies in increasing the awareness of young people to such dangers, so that they exercise discretion and good judgement when navigating the online world. Students in the Ministry of Education's schools are taught to establish boundaries for personal safety, discern risks and exercise sound judgement when going onto online platforms and managing relationships, both online and offline. In addition, during Cyber Wellness lessons, they learn about safe and responsible use of technology and cover topics, such as danger with cyber contacts. They will also link up with our universities and polytechnics to help raise awareness of such risks. At the same time, parents play a critical role in guiding their children and helping them to stay away from undesirable online content.

At the end of the day, while we recognise that these websites undermine families and society, our best defence is for society, communities and our families to reinforce values that anchor us so that we do not to succumb to such influences.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I am very heartened by the Ministry's views. I just have two supplementary questions. First, building on what the Minister has said that the Police and the Ministry will take a closer look at these sites, I hope that this can be done very proactively and decisively, when it is very clear that what the Ministry is advocating is not adhered to. My second question is a broader question, which is how do we balance the need between freedom of young adults to do as they wish, whilst curbing the platforms of these activities which are not aligned to our social norms.

I thank Mr Seah for his concerns, well-expressed. I give the Member the assurance that as we had responded to in the Parliamentary Question answer, we will keep an eye on the site and other like sites, and take action if laws are violated. In terms of finding the right balance between the freedom of people, including young people to make moral choices within the realm of what is legally permissible, and acting as a regulator to curb sites both online and, of course, in the real-world platforms to protect, we need to strike the right balance.

Certain sites, for example, Ashley Madison, if the Member recalls, in 2013, the Info-communications Media Development Authority's predecessor, the Media Development Authority, acted decisively to ban the site because the site explicitly advocated, through its portal, extramarital affairs and infidelity. They had proposed to set up the site in Singapore and for the founder to fly in and launch the site. That ran right up against our core values on protecting the family and preserving family values. So, we acted decisively then.

But the Member would know that in the online realm, it is very broad. There are many aspects of the online world that are very troubling. And yet, locking and banning every such site, whatever its subject matter may be, is not the most enduring way in which to protect Singaporeans, including young Singaporeans, from such risks.

The key is to put in a lot of effort educating children from young and continuing well into the teenage years and beyond, so that they are aware of these risks. The key is that families, individuals, communities and society as a whole need to continuously recognise the values that hold us together. With that kind of internalisation of values, we put each and every individual in as best a position as possible when making his or her moral decisions.

I thank the Minister for clarifying the Ministry's position on this. I have two supplementary questions. The first is, I understand the Minister's point, but on this particular website TheSugarBook, it was featured in a mainstream teenager magazine just earlier this year. I would like to ask what is the Ministry's position on this. The concern is whether by being featured in such mainstream teenager magazines, the wrong signal will be sent that this is a mainstream channel or platform for teenagers to make use of. This is also taking into consideration that we collectively object to such websites.

The second question is: the more important thing is to address the root cause. I would like to ask the Ministry whether there will be any effort to be taken to understand the reasons why young people are taking to such websites as one of the options to finance whatever their endeavours are, including studies. So, whether the Ministry will be taking a proactive effort to reach out and help these young people so that they become less susceptible to such lures?

Mr Speaker, I agree with the Member that we need to work with all aspects of society, including the private sector, to see whether it is appropriate for them to be advocating or advertising for such platforms and activities. This is an ongoing conversation. As I had said earlier in my reply, we will keep a very close eye on TheSugarBook and other like sites.

In terms of the root cause, this is something that we continually study. People, including young people, make moral choices based on the internal sense of what is right, what is wrong, what is white, what is black and what is grey. What is important is that from a young age and all through life, we give individuals the opportunity to be exposed to good moral values. The role of family is critical and that is why the Ministry of Social and Family Development provides programmes in which parents can pick up and strengthen parenting skills. We work very closely with schools on such curriculum. We have social networks, such as Family Service Centres and other voluntary welfare organisations that partner us in supporting families that run into crises. For example, when the children present certain behavioural issues, it is a whole-of-community effort.

I thank the Member for her concern. We will continue to keep an eye on such developments.