Effectiveness of Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media in Addressing Mental Health Issues in Youths

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health with regard to the upcoming Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media (a) how will the Ministry assess its effectiveness in addressing mental health issues among youth; and (b) what plans are there to extend these efforts to foster mental resilience in young adults who have left school.

The Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media will be introduced in the first half of 2025 to help individuals identify potential harms of technology and social media and learn to use them appropriately. Like many preventive health measures, effects take time and will show up in disease prevalence data.

The Guide is targeted at youths, including those not in school. Outreach efforts by various societal stakeholders will be needed to reach individuals of different age groups.