Speech by MOS Rahayu Mahzam at the Launch of TikTok’s “Family Digital Check-In Guide”

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, good morning.

I am happy to be here, and many thanks to TikTok Singapore for inviting me to the launch of your Family Digital Check-in Guide. I am heartened to see many of our close partners and members of the Singaporean content creator community here today, and also the media.

It is very important that we share and work together on this, because today’s digital world presents parents with a challenge unlike any before. It is complex, fast-moving, and deeply consequential for our children. MDDI’s Digital Parenting Survey last year showed that while 9 in 10 parents surveyed had taken steps to guide their children's screen use, many experienced uncertainty as they struggled to keep pace with ever-changing digital demands. From my own interactions with parents, I know that many are looking for practical, accessible support.

We have been working hard to support parents on their journey. IMDA's Digital for Life website contains resources for parents that are tailored to different milestones in the digital parenting journey — from a child’s first device, to their first social media account, to their first online game.

Since last November, MDDI has also worked with community partners on a series of workshops on parenting in the digital age, to reach parents in their local communities. Resources have already been built over the years. We have realised that resources are just resources, we need to give life to them. I am so grateful to the community partners who helped us drive them to the heartlands, and we will see more efforts coming to the fore within the next few months. This includes TikTok and TOUCH Cyber Wellness, who will be working together to conduct workshops at my constituency in Bukit Batok East. We just opened a new Community Centre yesterday, so I am excited that there is something to fill that space with.

Workshops and community programmes can give parents the confidence and knowledge they need, but what matters most are the conversations that happen at home. That is why resources like the Family Digital Check-in Guide are helpful. It is designed to help families have honest and meaningful conversations about online safety together.

Rather than prescribing strict rules, this guide seeks to build shared understanding and goals, to support both parents and youths in navigating the digital world more confidently. The guide includes simple prompts to get the conversation started, and an interactive quiz to help families identify their digital profiles and discover the features best suited to their needs.

Strong partnerships are at the heart of a safer digital ecosystem, and today's collaboration is a good example of such whole-of-society collaboration. Keeping Singapore's digital space safe is a responsibility we all share, and the Government and tech platforms must continue to work hand in hand to build a safer digital environment for our children.

The Family Digital Check-in Guide reflects a strong commitment to supporting the well-being of our young users and their families. I want to express my sincere appreciation to TikTok Singapore for taking the initiative to develop this resource in collaboration with TOUCH Cyber Wellness, and in support of IMDA’s Digital for Life movement.

Parenting in the digital age is a journey that we must navigate together, and the Government will continue to invest in programmes and partnerships to empower parents with the confidence and tools to foster healthy digital habits for their children. One such exciting event is coming up this weekend at the National Family Festival carnival at the Singapore Expo, where MDDI has a digital parenting zone of fun activities for parents and children. We do want to provide alternative support and bring in partners together to build this ecosystem for families. So if you have time, do come visit us there!

I just want to convey my congratulations once again on the launch of this Guide and let us continue to work together to create a safer and more positive digital environment for all Singaporeans. Thank you.