Don’t leave Hong Kong parents to their own devices on child social media use

Hong Kong, a city renowned for its high-achieving youth, also sees a significant number of children engaging with social media at a tender age. Research reveals that nearly a third of kindergarten pupils spend at least an hour a day on recreational screen time, while by junior forms, this figure increases to over 60 per cent, exceeding the recommended two-hour daily limit.

This excessive screen time is a source of tension at home, contributing to 85.5 per cent of family disputes. The government must examine whether it is sufficiently safeguarding children from the addictive nature of social media or if parents are left to manage these issues on their own. Just a week after the Hong Kong Institute of Family Education highlighted these concerns, social media giant Meta announced it would alert parents when their children repeatedly search for content related to suicide and self-harm on Instagram.

While the motive behind this move may not be altruistic, the Australian government took a bold step last December by banning social media for children under 16, making it the first nation to do so. This move, though unlikely to curb social media's detrimental impact on young people globally, serves as a powerful statement holding platforms accountable for their profit-driven approach at the expense of children's mental health.

The Australian law carries significant penalties for companies that fail to block minors, underscoring the need for government intervention. The US, home to major tech companies, has seen a rise in lawsuits against these firms, with recent settlements imposing hefty fines and forcing major changes to their products. The UK and New Zealand are also considering bans, with the UK planning to restrict social media use for those under 16 and New Zealand planning to introduce a bill to achieve the same.

In Hong Kong, calls for similar action have grown louder, with legislative councillor Duncan Chiu inquiring about the government's plans. However, the government's reluctance to take decisive action appears to be driven by concerns over the local innovation and technology ecosystem, the impact on freedom of speech, and the expectations regarding the right to information.

While the government acknowledges the negative impact of social media on adolescents' mental and physical health, there is apprehension about the potential repercussions of a ban on these sectors. The government's focus on fostering information literacy among students and encouraging parental involvement in setting reasonable rules regarding social media and screen time only highlights the continued reliance on parents to mitigate the adverse effects of social media on the younger generation.