Written Answer · 2026-08-04 · Parliament 15
Reports of AI-encouraged Cases of Self-harm amongst Teenagers and Children
Hany Soh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in a written question whether the Ministry had received reports of AI-encouraged or AI-related self-harm by teenagers and children in the past three years, and what safeguards are in place. Minister Masagos Zulkifli replied that MSF does not track reports of self-harm specifically related to AI, noting that the factors behind self-harm are multi-faceted and differ from case to case. The Government's approach is to educate young users to use technology safely: school Cyber Wellness and Mental Health Education lessons teach students to be safe, respectful and responsible online and to use AI tools safely and responsibly, while IMDA's Digital for Life portal explains the risks of AI and guides parents on safeguarding children who interact with AI platforms. Parents can turn to school counsellors or community providers such as TOUCH Community Services, and youths can seek help from First Stop for Mental Health services such as national mindline 1771, mindline.sg, Youth Community Outreach Teams, CHAT and Youth Integrated Teams. On regulation, IMDA's Code of Practice for Online Safety for Social Media Services requires designated social media services to minimise users' exposure to self-harm content and to provide safety information to users searching for high-risk terms, including those relating to self-harm.
Why it matters
MSF does not track AI-related self-harm reports; the safeguards rest on school Cyber Wellness lessons and IMDA's social-media safety code, so there is still no dedicated data on AI-companion risk.
Key Points
- • MSF does not specifically track self-harm reports related to AI, noting that the factors behind self-harm are multi-faceted and vary by case
- • School Cyber Wellness and Mental Health Education lessons teach students to be safe, responsible online users and to use AI tools safely
- • IMDA's Digital for Life portal explains AI risks and guides parents on safeguarding children who interact with AI platforms
- • Help channels include school counsellors, TOUCH Community Services and First Stop for Mental Health services such as mindline 1771, mindline.sg and CHAT
- • IMDA's Code of Practice for Online Safety for Social Media Services requires designated platforms to minimise exposure to self-harm content and show safety information for high-risk searches
The Government handles AI-related self-harm within its broader digital-wellness framework: no dedicated statistics, on the reasoning that self-harm has many causes; the defence has three layers — school Cyber Wellness and Mental Health Education, IMDA's Digital for Life resources for parents plus the existing mental-health help network, and the Code of Practice for Online Safety's content obligations on designated social media services. There is no regulatory measure specific to AI chat or companion platforms.
Questioner Hany Soh's concern is whether AI has become a new trigger for self-harm among teenagers and children: she asked for case-report data over the past three years and targeted safeguards; the reply acknowledged no such tracking exists and pointed to existing general education and social-media rules.
Singapore is not yet monitoring "AI and youth mental health" as a standalone item, folding it instead into cyber-wellness education and social-media platform regulation. The only hard obligation sits on social media services designated under the Code of Practice for Online Safety; AI chatbots and companion apps fall outside that code. The line that students are also taught to use AI tools safely and responsibly confirms that AI literacy is already in the MOE curriculum. If documented AI-related self-harm cases emerge, the absence of dedicated data will be the first gap in the policy debate.
"Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) does not track reports of self-harm specifically related to artificial intelligence (AI)."
Participants (2)
- Hany Soh
- Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-09-04
69 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry has received any reports on artificial intelligence-encouraged or related cases of self-harm by teenagers and children in the past three years; and (b) what are the safeguards in place to prevent such risks.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M : Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) does not track reports of self-harm specifically related to artificial intelligence (AI). Nevertheless, we note that the factors contributing to self-harm are often multi-faceted and may differ from case to case.
The Government's approach is to educate Singaporeans, especially young users, with the knowledge and awareness to use technology in a safe and healthy way. In schools, students are taught to be safe, respectful and responsible online users through their Cyber Wellness and Mental Health Education lessons. Students are also taught to use AI tools safely and responsibly.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority's (IMDA's) Digital for Life portal provides resources that explain the risks of AI and guide parents on how to safeguard their children's well-being when interacting with AI platforms. Parents who suspect that their children are struggling with mental health issues arising from digital technology use, including interactions with AI platforms, can seek help from school counsellors or community service providers, such as TOUCH Community Services, which runs counselling and intervention programmes for youths affected by cyber and mental wellness issues.
Youths may also seek mental health support from First Stop for Mental Health services, such as national mindline 1771, mindline.sg, Youth Community Outreach Teams, CHAT and Youth Integrated Teams in the community.
IMDA has regulatory safeguards to minimise users' exposure to self-harm content on platforms. The Code of Practice for Online Safety for Social Media Services requires designated social media services to minimise users' exposure to self-harm content and provide relevant safety information to users searching for high-risk search terms, including those relating to self-harm.