Youths (under 18)
Staying Safe on Facebook
Staying safe online
Setting privacy and safety controls
Facebook connects you with family, friends and interest groups, and lets you share moments from your life. What you post, see and engage with can shape your online experience. Learning how Facebook works and adjusting your settings can help you stay safe online.
How can Facebook’s feed affect you?
Facebook shows you posts based on what you like, comment on, share and search for. This means your activity influences what appears in your feed.
Even though Facebook has safety settings for younger users, you may still see content that:
Involves cyberbullying, harassment or doxxing
Pressures you to look or act a certain way
Spreads misleading information
Shares extreme opinions or promotes harmful stereotypes
If your feed starts to feel overwhelming or negative, it may be time to adjust your settings to protect yourself.
What are Facebook’s default protections for younger users?
The minimum age to create a Facebook account in Singapore is 13 years old. Teen Accounts are Facebook accounts for users aged 13 to 17. Some privacy and safety settings are turned on by default for these accounts to give younger users extra protection.
Settings that encourage healthy screen habits
Push notifications are muted daily from 10pm to 7am
A reminder to close Facebook appears after a total of 60 minutes is spent on it each day
Settings to limit interactions with strangers
Only your Facebook friends can:
See your posts, stories, reels, friends list, and the people, Pages and lists you follow
Comment on your public posts
Posts you are tagged in must be reviewed before they appear on your profile, and only your Facebook friends can view the tagged posts
No one can remix your public reels
Filters to reduce inappropriate content
Content setting is set to “Show less” to filter out inappropriate content
“Supervision”
Your parents can link their accounts to yours by setting up “Supervision” to support your safety
How can you further protect yourself on Facebook?
Even with these protections in place, you may still want more control over what you see and who can interact with you.
Choose what you see
Tap “Not interested” on posts you do not want to see more of
Filter out or hide comments or keywords that bother you
Unfriend accounts that do not make you feel good
Control who can see your content and interact with you
Conduct a "Privacy Checkup” and review the personal data visible on your profile
Choose who can friend and follow you, or comment on your posts
Manage who can see your content
Manage tags and decide who can see posts you are tagged in
Add people to your "Restricted List” to limit what they can see
Block accounts you do not want to interact with
Watch your screen time
Set daily screen time limits to get a reminder when you have spent a certain amount of time on Facebook
Notice how Facebook makes you feel after long sessions
Take breaks when scrolling starts to feel overwhelming
What else can you do when something does not feel right?
Sometimes, certain content or interactions may cause discomfort and make you feel unsafe.
When that happens, remember:
You do not have to respond or explain yourself
Saving screenshots or links can help if you want to report harmful behaviour
Blocking or reporting is okay
Talking to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher or counsellor, can help you figure out next steps
Getting support early can prevent things from getting worse
Where can you learn more about Facebook’s safety tools?
Visit these resources to find out more about staying safe on Facebook:
Facebook Help Centre: Get help with your account, settings and security, and find answers to common questions.
Meta Safety Centre: Explore safety tips and resources to help you navigate Meta platforms safely.
You can also explore other online safety resources on our website for more advice on staying safe online.