About Us
We are a parent-led movement on a mission to protect our children from the dangers of social media and using smartphones too young.
We are a growing movement of parents supporting each other in delaying access to smartphones and social media for our children. Coordinated via WhatsApp communities, Look Up Hong Kong is where parents can learn more about the issue, find other like-minded parents and support one another.
About Us
We are a parent-led movement on a mission to protect our children from the dangers of social media and using smartphones too young.
We are a growing movement of 1,000+ parents across 50 schools supporting each other in delaying access to smartphones and social media for our children. Coordinated via WhatsApp communities, Look Up Hong Kong is where parents can learn more about the issue, find other like-minded parents and support one another.
A Common Purpose
Observing the impact of smartphone free childhood movements across the world, a group of Hong Kong parents reached out to connect and wonder what positive change a similar movement would have for our kids in Hong Kong. And with that, Look Up Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s own smartphone free childhood movement was born.
In April 2024, we set up our WhatsApp group to build solidarity and support a community of parents in their efforts to take back control of when and how we introduce and manage smartphones in our children’s lives.
Over the months since, we’ve seen our community flourish with parents and educators from Hong Kong’s local and international schools. We’ve seen school groups set-up and parents leading the way with class pledges to hold off on buying smartphones for their kids. We’ve seen an outpouring of experiences and sharing of opinion that’s brought clarity on the priorities and direction of our movement.
Building Momentum for Change
The wave of support we’ve received from Hong Kong parents from every walk of life has only strengthened our conviction that childhood and smartphones simply shouldn’t mix.
We’re now more determined than ever to not only provide solidarity and support for parents navigating the issues tech brings to our lives, but also to use the voice of our community to bring change that empowers parents to do what they feel is right for their kids and their wellbeing in this digital age.
Dr Jonathan Haidt – the world’s leading voice in this space – has called this smartphone free childhood movement “the beginning of the global tipping point in the fight back against a phone-based childhood”.
We’ve only just begun…
Our Team
Hongkonger, husband, and comms consultant, Robert founded Look Up Hong Kong to build a collective voice to advocate for our children. He was kicked into action by a belief that “childhood ends when you give a child a smartphone”, and he is driven to engage schools, parents and other stakeholders to champion this movement and do better for our kids. You can find him running to the DB ferry or cheering on the sidelines at the rugby pitch. Let’s connect to hear more about how you can be part of our community.
A corporate Mum who is battling her own stark digital addiction, Anneliese believes in a collaborative approach to smartphone addiction. "Together, we are seeking tangible solutions to help bridge the gap and kick start conversations." A former journalist turned digital change lead, Anneliese can be found outside with her active family. She believes in fostering a sense of belonging, for ourselves and our children, through connection, kindness and a dose of sunshine.
Daisy is an experienced finance professional, wife and working mum who joined Look Up Hong Kong as a way to give back and make a meaningful impact beyond her career. Her inspiration comes from home — when her daughter, still very young, recognised the trade-off between smartphones and real-life connection and expressed it through a story. That moment stayed with her. Today, Daisy hopes to help amplify that voice and believes children should enjoy a childhood filled with real-world experiences, curiosity and human connection.
Driven by a deep love for children, Karen joined Look Up Hong Kong after noticing with alarm just how many babies and young children are glued to screens on the MTR and in restaurants. As a creative professional, she is excited to use her storytelling skills for good, inspiring young minds to look up from their devices and explore the world around them. A firm believer that boredom sparks creativity, Karen can often be found lounge-nesting on her sofa or taking aimless yet healing walks around her neighborhood.
Laura is a former government and corporate affairs professional based in Hong Kong who transitioned into the food and hospitality sector with a focus on nutrition. Her career shift was inspired by her own efforts to cultivate healthy eating habits for her two young children, where she also observed the powerful benefits of pairing nutritious diets — free from common toxins — with minimal screen time. Laura now runs a boutique consultancy that helps busy households achieve health sovereignty, offering practical strategies to nourish even the pickiest eaters.
Tanya is a Director of Look Up Hong Kong, a not-for-profit supporting parents and young people to build healthy, balanced relationships with digital technology. After 25 years working as a humanitarian in major crises around the world, she saw first hand that when pressure is high and circumstances are tough, it is the depth and quality of our human connections that hold everything together. Today, both as a leader and as a mother of two daughters starting out on their own journeys to digital independence, she feels deeply the challenge families face in a world that is constantly online. She is passionate about helping parents navigate this digital world with intention and confidence — so that technology enriches family life rather than quietly eroding connection.
As a lifelong educator, Amanda‘s first teaching role was to students (classroom size 70!) in rural China. Today, she is a Montessori mom who works for an online academic program for gifted high school students. Whilst technology offers amazing possibilities for young people, Amanda believes that developmentally appropriate formats and standards must be put into place to safeguard young children and teenagers from the dangers of using smart phones, screens, and social media. Books, the arts, and education continue to be her passion.
As a lifelong educator, Amanda‘s first teaching role was to students (classroom size 70!) in rural China. Today, she is a Montessori mom who works for an online academic program for gifted high school students. Whilst technology offers amazing possibilities for young people, Amanda believes that developmentally appropriate formats and standards must be put into place to safeguard young children and teenagers from the dangers of using smart phones, screens, and social media. Books, the arts, and education continue to be her passion.
Al is very invested in giving his children the best pathway to a balanced and healthy childhood. He battles with smartphone use himself and so believes that meeting the problem at the roots is key.
Jeannie believes innurturing family bonds and creating a more present, intentional way of living with our children in the digital age. An experienced early childhood educator and NGO leader, she brings expertise in strategy, community building, and public advocacy to Look Up Hong Kong. Through this work, she hopes to educate parents and young people on cultivating healthier digital habits and embracing a more holistic view of childhood, empowering families across Hong Kong to reconnect, re-balance, and rediscover the joy of real-world experiences.
As a lifelong educator, Amanda‘s first teaching role was to students (classroom size 70!) in rural China. Today, she is a Montessori mom who works for an online academic program for gifted high school students. Whilst technology offers amazing possibilities for young people, Amanda believes that developmentally appropriate formats and standards must be put into place to safeguard young children and teenagers from the dangers of using smart phones, screens, and social media. Books, the arts, and education continue to be her passion.
A lifelong champion of practical innovation, Kristi is a tech leader with roots in the USA and Sweden, she navigates the beautiful chaos of global work, grown children, and three energetic grandchildren. Currently serving as PMO for Enterprise Architecture & Integration at Chanel Digital, she brings a calm, structured approach to complexity — and a belief that technology only matters when it genuinely helps people. As the founder of Applied Business Acumen, she thrives on turning big ideas into grounded, usable solutions that make everyday work feel lighter. When not untangling digital knots, she’s outside soaking up sunshine, connection, and the simple joy of belonging.
Sabina came to this work the way many of us come to the things that matter most — through her own family. Raising two young boys made her pay close attention to the quiet ways that screens were reshaping daily life, and she decided to do something about it. A former corporate project manager, she brings structure and focus to a space that can feel overwhelming, helping families start the conversations they know they need to have. At Look Up Hong Kong, she's on a mission to help parents feel less alone, and to remind us all that the simplest moments of connection are still the most powerful ones.
As a lifelong educator, Amanda‘s first teaching role was to students (classroom size 70!) in rural China. Today, she is a Montessori mom who works for an online academic program for gifted high school students. Whilst technology offers amazing possibilities for young people, Amanda believes that developmentally appropriate formats and standards must be put into place to safeguard young children and teenagers from the dangers of using smart phones, screens, and social media. Books, the arts, and education continue to be her passion.
Our Advisors
Born and raised in Hong Kong until the age of 17, Aaron grew up knowing what it felt like to struggle quietly – and that experience has shaped everything he does. He went on to spend a decade studying and working in Australia before returning home. Today, he's a five-time award-winning author, a global speaker, and the founder of The Purpose Club, with a podcast ranked in the world's Top 25 for purpose and personal development. But more than any of that, he's a dad of two young boys who believes deeply that children need to know who they are before the algorithm decides for them. He brings warmth, honesty, and a hard-won depth of empathy for young people navigating pressure, identity, and belonging in the digital age.
Lisel is a PACFA and HKSCP registered family therapist and parent educator, with specialist credentials in supporting neurodivergence in the family unit. Her person-centered practice draws on CBT, ACT, and Internal Family Systems approaches, and she holds particular warmth for caregivers navigating the everyday complexity of raising children in a screen-saturated world. A mother herself, Lisel is passionate about helping families have honest conversations, set values-aligned limits, and model healthy relationships with screens. Her belief is simple but profound: when we support parents, we change the future for children.
Sara is a registered clinical psychologist with the Hong Kong Institute of Clinical Psychologists, a registered play therapist/supervisor (Association of Play Therapy, USA) and a board approved supervisor (Australian Board of Psychology). In her years of experience in Hong Kong, she has encountered many severe cases of problematic smartphone use in parents, children and young people leading to poor mental health outcomes and risks of child maltreatment. She continues to strive for a smartphone free childhood for her own child and other children.
Vivian is a US-trained pediatrician, working in Hong Kong. She sees the mental and physical health effects of smartphone usage in children and teens in her practice: not only how it can interfere with healthy child development but also how it becomes an experience blocker — taking time away from being physically active, social, and getting quality sleep. Her experiences in the hospital and in her own home compel her to advocate for delaying and limiting smartphone use for developing minds.
Charles is an expat doctor from the UK who has called Hong Kong home since 2014. He is a father to 2 young girls and treats children and young adults on a daily basis. He is passionate about keeping childhood free from social media and harmful technology, while promoting healthy habits and good relationships.
Rory is a Learning and Innovation Coach with extensive experience working alongside educators, parents, and children in schools across Hong Kong. He advises on how technology can be used to improve learning while safeguarding wellbeing, championing a balanced and intentional approach to tech in and out of the classroom. As a father of two, he is personally committed to helping families find a healthy balance between the digital and the real world. He believes every child deserves the space to flourish in both.
Thomas is an Associate Professor of AI and STEM Education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and one of the world's leading voices on technology in the classroom, recognized on Stanford University's Top 2% Most Cited Scientists list. He designs professional development programs and AI-related curricula for schools and universities, and advises government committees at local levels. But what brings him to Look Up Hong Kong is simpler than any of that: he's a dad who believes that how and when we introduce technology into our children's lives matters enormously. His research and his parenting point in the same direction: children need time, space, and the right foundations before we hand them the world in a screen.
Partners & Community
