Ep 68 - How to Raise Kids in a Digital Age - Rahayu Mahzam on Parenting, Politics and being Present in your Life

In this episode, I’m delighted to speak with Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, on youth wellbeing, balancing authority and humanity in leadership, and what civic responsibility looks like in Singapore’s digital age.

MOS Rahayu shares her journey from legal practice and long-standing volunteer work to being invited into politics, a path she never actively sought but gradually stepped into as her advocacy for people and the community deepened. Her reflections reveal a leadership philosophy grounded in service, empathy and authenticity.

We also unpack the psychological and social implications of growing up online and discuss rising mental health concerns among the youth, the role of government in setting guardrails, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, from legislation to grassroots networks in shaping a healthier digital culture.

This conversation is also deeply personal. MOS Rahayu reflects on the realities of being a woman in leadership, navigating high-stakes decision-making while also being a mother and partner. Rather than framing it as “having it all,” she acknowledges the trade-offs, the inevitable imperfections, and the ongoing negotiation between competence and vulnerability.

Resources Mentioned:

Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort - A longitudinal Singapore study tracking child development and health outcomes from birth, providing insights into early influences on wellbeing. ⁠https://rdcu.be/e5WwU⁠

Mind-set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect by Alia J.Crum and Professor Ellen J. Langer - Research demonstrating how identity beliefs influence behavioural change ⁠https://dash.harvard.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/7312037c-7142-6bd4-e053-0100007fdf3b/content⁠

Guidance on Screen Use in Children by Ministry of Health Singapore - National guidelines offering recommendations for healthy digital use among children and adolescents. ⁠https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/3/dc21db37-3dde-4cdb-9b9f-773d93c93f93/Guidance%20on%20Screen%20Use%20in%20Children%20(18%20Jan)-clean.pdf⁠

Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act (Singapore) – Legislation aimed at providing victim-centric recourse against online harms. ⁠https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/OSRAA2025/Uncommenced/20260221020925?DocDate=20251208⁠

Touch Community Services – A community agency supporting families and individuals, including digital parenting and youth wellbeing initiatives. ⁠http://touch.org.sg/⁠

Where to Find MOS Rahayu Mahzam

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/rahayumahzam/?hl=en⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/RahayuMahzamSG/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web#⁠

Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@rahayumahzam?xmt=AQF0_0FwsovncTXuYjn31kJnoQwKkFftUNgQisdHxuJjZW0⁠