‘Addiction is irreversible’: Hong Kong urged to ban under-16s from social media

Hong Kong should adopt legislation to prevent children under 16 from using social media, according to education experts and lawmakers. This recommendation comes as concerns grow about cyberbullying and addiction among younger generations. At a panel discussion, educators stressed the need for a legislative approach to protect the next generation from the harmful effects of social media.

Lilian Chan, an experienced school principal, warned that addiction to social media is irreversible, likening it to losing one's judgment. A survey conducted by the New Youth Forum revealed strong public support for such legislation, with 61.8% of respondents backing the idea, and even higher support among parents at 76.3%. However, the poll also highlighted a significant generational divide, with younger adults aged 18 to 29 being more opposed to the proposal.

Implementing such a law would require extensive engagement with young people and education for both parents and children on responsible social media use. Lawmaker Duncan Chiu noted that Hong Kong's commitment to information freedom presents challenges in adopting a model similar to mainland China's firewalls and central supervision bodies.

Instead, policymakers and educators could focus on identifying implementation areas and potential loopholes at the execution level. Some European countries have already banned phones on campuses, and access to social media is restricted. France recently enforced a nationwide mobile phone ban for students up to middle school, with plans to extend the prohibition to senior secondary schools by 2026-27.

In the UK, a statutory ban on smartphones in state-funded schools took effect on June 29, requiring pupils to switch off or store their devices during school hours. Similar age restrictions for social media have been introduced in other countries, such as Australia, which became the first nation to implement such a law in December 2025.