Singapore – Ministry of Home Affairs Singapore has launched a new public awareness film under its SGSecure initiative, aimed at encouraging vigilance in public spaces.
Developed in partnership with VML Singapore, the short film “Bye Tech Neck” highlights how mobile phone use can reduce situational awareness, particularly in high-traffic environments.
The campaign draws from earlier SGSecure observations where individuals failed to notice unattended or suspicious items in public areas.
The film opens with a wellness-style tutorial demonstrating exercises to relieve “tech neck” before shifting to a security-focused message.
It connects everyday habits with the need for greater awareness, reinforcing the role of individuals in identifying and reporting potential threats.
“In our SGSecure social experiments last year, we observed that many people walked past suspicious items without noticing them. Often, people were just glued to their phones,” said Matthias Chew, director of the SGSecure Programme Office at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He added, “We hope the humour behind ‘Bye Tech Neck’ will help everyone to remember to look up from time to time – and if we can do so, we will be a much more vigilant and safer society.”
“With the threat of terrorism remaining high, the need for vigilance is ever present,” said Nimesh Desai, chief executive officer of VML Singapore.
The film will be distributed across SGSecure and MHA social media platforms and screened at public transport nodes, including MRT stations and bus interchanges.
Desai added, “It is critical that our communications resonate in ways that are relevant and relatable, capturing attention while clearly underscoring the importance of vigilance.”
