Requiring Retailers to Display Warning Advisories on Screen Exposure Risks for Young Children on Consumer Electronic Devices

Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in view of the potential impact of screen exposure on the physical development and mental health of children below six years old, whether the Government will consider requiring retailers of mobile phones, laptops, tablets and computers to indicate public education and warning advisory messages, as a precautionary measure.

The Government has implemented several measures to develop healthy screen use habits in children early as part of Grow Well SG. This includes issuing screen use guidelines to provide parents with clearer guidance, leveraging the childhood development screening visits from zero to six years old to raise parental awareness and encourage behaviour change early, and disallowing smart phones in primary and secondary schools. These measures are showing effectiveness in changing parenting methods and screen use habits, and we are studying further measures, including for adolescents. There are no plans to require retailers of mobile phones, laptops, tablets and computers to display public education and warning advisory messages.