Assessment of Interactions with Strangers, Subsequent Off-platform Contact and Associated Harms to Youths from Online Gaming Platforms

Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information following the 2022 to 2023 survey of youths aged 10 to 18 years on online gaming, whether the Ministry has assessed (i) the prevalence of interactions with strangers through gaming platforms and subsequent off-platform contact (ii) how such interactions and associated harms vary by age and (iii) the nature and severity of any reported harms.

Mrs Josephine Teo: The 2022 to 2023 Youth Gaming Survey covered youths' gaming habits and the potential risks and dangers that youths may be exposed to in online gaming. As habits take time to be shaped, the survey's findings are still useful as reference.

It found that 14% of respondents aged 10 to 18 years old had engaged strangers outside of gaming. This included chatting with strangers about non-gaming related topics, sharing information with strangers or meeting strangers in person. Among respondents aged 13 to 18 years old, 17% of respondents experienced in-game bullying from other players while 38% of respondents sometimes or frequently came across vulgarities or violent content in games.

We recognise concerns about harms that online video games can pose, including unwanted interactions. Victims of online harms, including online harassment and online stalking, can now seek timely and effective relief through the Online Safety Commission which began operations in June 2026. We will continue to monitor the nature and severity of harms on different online gaming platforms, while studying further protections for children and young users.