Overview
- Results released Oct 10 from two MDDI surveys of 2,008 residents each show 84% encountered harmful content in the past year, up from about 75% in 2024 and 65% in 2023.
- Content tied to illegal activity such as scams was most common, followed by sexual and violent material, cyberbullying, and posts stoking racial or religious tension.
- Catfishing was the most reported harmful behaviour at 71%, most often on WhatsApp and Facebook, with other issues including unwanted sexual messages and harassment.
- Harmful content was frequently seen on Facebook (57%), YouTube (46%), Instagram (41%) and TikTok (36%), yet most users skipped or closed it and 23% took no action, reflecting low reporting.
- The government says it will table the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill in the coming weeks to empower a new Online Safety Commission starting 2026, building on existing IMDA Codes as app-store safety measures are due by Mar 31, 2026; two in three respondents support stronger regulation.