RECESS in many Singapore schools used to paint a familiar and worrying scene. Until late 2025, students streamed out of classrooms, their eyes fixed on mobile phones as they descended staircases and navigated crowded corridors.
At canteen tables, conversation was minimal; cutlery in one hand, phone in the other, pupils appeared absorbed in the digital world.
The Straits Times reported that this picture began to shift in January 2026 when the Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced stricter regulations, prohibiting students from using mobile phones throughout the school day, including during recess.
The policy responds to mounting concern over the pervasive role of screens in children’s lives, both inside and outside the classroom.
Beyond the school gates, the influence of screens remains evident. At a Whampoa hawker centre, three brothers, aged eight, five, and three, sit quietly from 4 pm to 10 pm, each glued to their iPad or mobile phone.
Their parents, managing long work hours without additional childcare support, rely on these devices to occupy their children.
Scenes like these, repeated across homes and restaurants, highlight a growing reliance on technology that may hinder the development of social skills and meaningful family interaction.
Recognising the complexity of the issue, experts emphasise that excessive screen use is often a symptom, not the root problem.
Dr Melvyn Zhang, senior consultant psychiatrist at the National Addictions Management Service at the Institute of Mental Health, observed: “It can be a manifestation of underlying issues such as academic stress or family problems, anxiety, or depression. Young people may turn to screens to cope with emotions or escape life stressors.”
Psychotherapist Adelyn Tan echoed this view, describing screen dependence as a coping mechanism: “Excessive screen use is rarely the core problem. It is often a response to deeper emotional, relational or developmental needs.
When children do not feel emotionally safe or lack the skills to regulate their feelings, screens become a quick and reliable escape. Busy or overwhelmed parents may unintentionally reinforce this reliance during stressful periods.”
Boredom, lack of maturity, and limited skills to manage digital engagement further exacerbate the problem, according to Andrea Chan, group head of TOUCH Counselling and Psychological Services.
“The easy accessibility of devices offers constant stimulation and gratification, which can be highly addictive, leading to extended screen use,” she explained.
Agencies have observed children engaging with screens from increasingly younger ages, sometimes from infancy, though most cases have not yet reached the level of clinical addiction, leaving room for intervention.
Singapore has already implemented measures to mitigate the issue.
New Health Ministry guidelines issued in 2025 set recommended screen time limits for young children, while MOE restrictions on mobile phones during school hours aim to curb digital overexposure.
Research underscores the urgency of these steps: a nationwide study by IMH reported that nearly half of Singaporean youth aged 15 to 21 exhibit problematic smartphone use, linked to poorer mental health outcomes such as anxiety, irritability, physical discomfort, and impaired concentration.
Gendered patterns also emerge as children grow older.
Boys are more likely to turn to gaming for social connection and anonymity, while girls tend to engage with social media and video content, potentially experiencing stress related to body image, peer approval, and cyberbullying.
However, individual behaviours vary significantly depending on family environment, access to devices, and social support networks.
Parents, experts note, often struggle to keep pace with their children’s digital lives. “Like trying to navigate a foreign country without a map, parents may be unfamiliar with the digital landscape their children are exploring and lack the knowledge to set effective boundaries,” said Chan.
Senior psychotherapist Chong Kaiwei from Promises Healthcare added that while screens are often the most visible source of tension, they rarely represent the root issue.
“Helping parents and children understand what screen use represents can open the door to meaningful change,” she said. - January 25, 2026
