Hong Kong authorities plan to further restrict young children’s use of mobile digital devices, including access to social media. This update to the city’s guidelines is part of health initiatives that will be announced in Wednesday’s policy address, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
The review of these guidelines is taking place in light of stricter regulations on minors’ device usage in some countries. This comes alongside the alarming trend of increasing myopia rates among Hong Kong children, who currently have the highest incidence of myopia in the world.
Additionally, there has been a significant rise in recreational screen time among students in recent years. According to a government source, authorities will consult experts on how to promote responsible mobile device usage among students. As a result, the current guidelines, which outline screen time limits based on age, may be revised accordingly.
“The government will not resort to legislation to ban the use of such devices as children are using them for learning,” the insider said.
“But more can be done – can we discourage the use of mobile phones on campus? Should younger pupils in primary schools have access to social media?”
Another insider said that the advisory committee on mental health under the Health Bureau would discuss the issue by the end of this month.
Hong Kong does not legally limit screen time, but the Department of Health recommends that children under two should avoid exposure to electronic screens, except for interactive video chats under parents’ guidance.
Children aged two to five should limit screen time to one hour daily, and those aged six to 12 should restrict it to two hours.
For teenagers, no specific time limit is suggested; instead, good time management and regular breaks are advised if extended screen use for study is necessary.
The guidelines were last updated in 2018 and largely align with the World Health Organization’s recommendations, which many countries have adopted.
Experts advocate for collaboration
Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the Hong Kong University Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and member of the advisory committee on mental health, emphasised the need for a consistent cross-departmental approach in implementing screen time guidelines.
Yip said limiting screen time benefited students’ mental health by reducing risks such as cyberbullying and unhealthy social comparison.
“However, different stakeholders need to strengthen their communication with each other, reaching a consensus on how to implement the guidelines in real life,” he said.
Students often required digital devices for homework, which could extend their screen time beyond current limits, placing teachers in a difficult position, he added.
Yip also highlighted the importance of educating parents, as many had long screen times themselves and used digital devices as an “electronic pacifier” for children.
“We need to bear in mind that we cannot simply take away social media from students’ lives. We need to promote a healthy and balanced use of digital devices and provide them with healthier alternatives as well,” he said.
Professor Jason Yam Cheuk-sing of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s department of ophthalmology and visual sciences pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused a significant rise in childhood myopia due to less outdoor activity and longer screen time.
A study by the Department of Health found that in the 2023-24 academic year, 43 per cent of primary and 81 per cent of secondary students spent two or more hours daily on recreational screen time, compared with 30 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively, in 2019-20.
Previous studies led by Yam also found that the average screen time of young children had more than doubled to seven hours a day during the pandemic, with the myopia incidence rate among six-year-olds doubling from 12 per cent in 2019 to 25 per cent during the outbreak, which was the highest globally.
He warned that this increase had serious public health implications because myopia significantly heightened the risk of eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, all potential causes of blindness.
“The guideline we have is quite good already, but the key challenge is how to help schools and parents follow the recommendations,” he said.
Aside from limiting screen time, Yam suggested the government explore ways to increase the time children spend on outdoor activities to prevent the onset and progression of myopia.
Managing youth screen time
A local paediatrician, who declined to be named, said Hong Kong should consider drafting guidelines recommending young people spend no more than one hour a day on online games, with a particular focus on teenagers.
“Online gaming could be very addictive,” the doctor said. “It could affect the development of vision, sleeping habits, emotions and learning.”
There is no official data on the prevalence of gaming addiction, but several studies by tertiary institutions and non-governmental organisations suggest that about 10 per cent of students are addicted.
Lawmaker Tang Fei, a former school principal, said screen use patterns differed greatly between schools and homes.
He added that many of the city’s schools widely used electronic tools for teaching while restricting mobile phone use on campus, and that it would be more difficult to limit the use of screen products at home.
Tang suggested that authorities issue two distinct screen time guidelines – one for schools and another for home – to provide clear guidance for educators and parents.
Some countries have already taken legal measures to restrict children’s usage of digital devices.
In 2021, mainland Chinese authorities limited minors’ online gaming to one hour from 8pm to 9pm between Fridays and Sundays, and on public holidays.
The Australian government passed a bill banning social media use for children under 16, which will take effect in December.
The United Kingdom is considering a two-hour daily social media cap for children and may impose curfews blocking access to certain apps during evenings or school hours.
