SINGAPORE/SYDNEY/KUALA LUMPUR: “I can guarantee,” a teenager told his peers, “no matter how many restrictions (the authorities) put in place, we’ll somehow find a way to bypass (them).”

It is a viewpoint the authorities themselves have heard over the past couple of months during focus group discussions as Singapore considers how best to regulate children’s access to social media.

At one of the discussions among youths aged 13 to 35, the same teen thought there should be “full access” from age 13 onwards. Another said the government could “give guidelines” to parents to implement at home.

As Talking Point host Diana Ser joined their group, none sounded confident about the enforceability of restrictions. Said one boy: “There’s only so much (the government) can do.”

Yet the pressure on policymakers continues to build up.

One in six young people aged 10 to 24 show signs of problematic social media use, associated with issues such as depression and anxiety. About one in five youths aged 15 to 35 have reported being cyberbullied.

While Singapore is now deciding how to protect its youth — with plans to legislate stronger safeguards early next year, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said this past week — some countries have already acted.

They include Australia, which became the world’s first country to ban acces...