The Problem

When we all started using smartphones, we had little understanding of the impact they would have on children and teenagers.

Now we do.

The evidence is overwhelming, and we need to act now.

The Problem

When we all started using smartphones, we had little understanding of the impact they would have on children and teenagers.

Now we do.

The evidence is overwhelming, and we need to act now.

The Problem

problem header image, person with entangled legs and arms surrounded by content icons

When we all started using smartphones, we had little understanding of the
impact they would have on children and teenagers.

Now we do

The evidence is overwhelming, and we need to act now.

Problem 1

Smartphones are highly addictive by design

Tech companies spend billions on making apps and devices intentionally addictive because ‘maximizing engagement’ is the fundamental objective of their business model.

They exploit the fact that younger users are particularly sensitive to reinforcement by social reward/likes and have minimal ability to self-regulate effectively to habituate them quickly to apps and devices.

A Health Briefing on the Evidenced Risks of the Smartphone. Health Professionals for Safer Screens. November 2024

25+% of those aged 15-24 years in Hong Kong met criteria for smartphone internet addiction
Chan DL, et al. Eur Psych 2021. p S211.
25% of HK teens spend 3+ hours a day on social media, watching videos and gaming.
Preply, HK Survey on Smartphone Usage, 2024
Problem 2

Smartphones are fueling a mental health crisis

Rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm and even suicide among teens have all dramatically spiked globally since 2010 – when children started getting smartphones.

A 2023 global study of 27,969 young adults from Sapiens Labs showed that the younger they got their first smartphone, the worse their mental health today.

Kelly Y, et al. EClinicalMedicine 2019; Sapien Labs 2023

25% of HK children aged 6 to 17 had at least one mental health issue in the past year.
CUHK Faculty of Medicine, Nov 2023
52% of secondary school pupils show symptoms of depression, and 25% show high levels of anxiety.
Baptist Oi Kwan Social Services 2024 Secondary School Students’ Well-Being Survey
The HK youth suicide rate (aged 10-19) more than doubled from 2014-2017.
HK Kids Online, Save the Children HK 2022
Problem 3

Smartphones expose children to harmful content

Having unrestricted access to the internet in your pocket creates a gateway to extreme content and viewpoints that we’d never dream of exposing children to in real life.

Pornography, extreme political views, sexualized and violent imagery, trolling and material promoting suicide, self-harm and eating disorders have become part of the fabric of modern childhood.

Abi-Jaoude E, et al. Smartphones, social media use and youth mental health. CMAJ 2020;192:E136-E141.

Nearly 40% of HK secondary students were exposed to unwanted online sexual content or requests
HK Kids Online, Save the Children HK 2022
44% of teenagers had contact on the internet with someone they did not know in real life.
HK Kids Online, Save the Children HK 2022
95% of HK youth believe leaders should do more to stop online harassment and abuse
Young Voice, Save the Children HK 2022
Problem 4

Smartphones rob children of their childhood

Smartphones are experience blockers, distracting children from engaging in the real world activities and connections that are crucial to healthy childhood development.

"Even harmless content isn’t harmless. Time spent on a device is time not spent with other children; playing, exploring, interacting and developing vital social skills."

Jonathan Haidt: Smartphones vs Smart Kids. Presented at National Summit on Education 2023.

HK primary students spend an average of 32 hours a week on mobile devices for leisure
YWCA HK Survey on Electronic Device Usage 2024
Less than 10% of Hong Kong school pupils  get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day
InspiringHK Sports Foundation 2024
Many HK children do not get enough outdoor time, with nearly half visiting outdoor playareas fewer than four times a month
HK Society for the Protection of Children Survey 2017
Problem 5

Hong Kong children are highly exposed

Smartphones in Hong Kong are ubiquitous. Considering its not uncommon to see a taxi dashboard in Hong Kong covered with up to 8 mobile phones, it’s not difficult to see how we lead the world with a smartphone penetration rate of 291% and a total of 23 million mobile service subscriptions.

We are also high social media users, with 86% of our total population (or 6.5 million people) using these platforms. Our city also supports a diverse social media landscape with users engaging with 6.6 platforms each month, of which YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Wechat and TikTok are the most popular.

Office of the Communications Authority Trading Fund Report 2020/21. Meltwater Social Media Statistics for Hong Kong [Updated 2024]. Statista 2025.

87% of those aged 10-14 years, and 99.8% of those aged 15-24 years own a smartphone in Hong Kong
Statista 2025
93% of secondary school students  (12-18 years) have their own profile on social media or a gaming platform
HK Kids Online, Save the Children HK 2022
More than 50% of all primary scholars and more than 90% of secondary students possess smartphones
2014 HK Department of Health Survey of 5,400 school students
Problem 6

Smartphones impact health in many ways

Hong Kong children’s overuse of smartphones and digital devices means they spend less time on physical exercises and outdoor activities, which negatively affects their physical development, physical health and psychosocial wellbeing. Physical issues include increased risk of obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck conditions (“text neck”), poor posture, and shortsightedness.

In fact, Hong Kong has the highest prevalence of childhood myopia in the world, with more than 40% of schoolchildren having myopia by 8 years. The HK Children Eye Study found that the annual incidence of myopia during the pandemic increase by almost 250% and that kids’ lifestyles (including less time outdoors, more near-work time, and more screen time) have still not return to pre–pandemic levels

Zhang XJ, Brit J Ophth 2022. InspiringHK Sports Foundation 2024. HK Society for the Protection of Children Survey 2017

About 50% of HK primary students had  symptoms of unclear vision and eye strain due to the use of portable electronic devices
HK Association of Private Practice Optometrists 2010
40% of HK children have myopia by 8 years of age
Zhang XJ, Brit J Ophth 2022
The 1-week incidence of sleep deprivation and musculoskeletal pain reported by HK youth aged 10 to 19 years was 50% and 40%, respectively.
Kwok, SWH, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2017;14;205.
Use of platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, is significantly associated with decreased body satisfaction and increased eating pathology.
Liu T, et al. Healthcare (Basel) 2024;12:2391.
Problem 7

Smartphones fuel conflicts

The impact of smartphone and social media use has seen a troubling increase in hostile relations and conflicts between family members in Hong Kong. The mental health of both parents and children is negatively impacted with half of those surveyed presenting unsatisfactory mental health scores.

Recent research also indicates that the rise in smartphone and social media usage has significantly contributed to the increase in cyberbullying incidents. The anonymity provided by these platforms facilitates aggressive behaviors that might not occur in face-to-face interactions.

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ Integrated Centre on Addiction Prevention and Treatment Primary Pupil Survey 2023. Tsang SMH, et al. Front Public Health 2023;11:1178769

35% of HK parents reported increased family conflict due to children’s use of smartphones and mobile devices.
TWGH Integrated Centre on Addiction Prevention and Treatment Primary Pupil Survey 2023.
28.5% of HK parents resorted to verbal insults, physical threats and unreasonable punishments in their struggles over their children’s device usage.
TWGH Integrated Centre on Addiction Prevention and Treatment Primary Pupil Survey 2023.
30% of HK secondary students reported being victims of cyberbullying, while 32% admitted to having bullied others online.
Bhat CS, et al. Cybebullying in Asia. Education About Asia 2013;18:36-39.
“When kids are on their phones all day, it’s not just what they're doing on the phone that matters — it’s what they’re not doing. They’re missing out on crucial experiences that help them grow into healthy adults.”
Jonathan Haidt
Dr Jonathan Haidt
Professor of Social Psychology, NYU

It's Little Wonder That Many of the People Who Created This Technology Keep It Away From Their Kids

"We don't allow the iPad in the home. We think it's too dangerous."

Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Founder of Apple

Grew up without a TV and credits his own success on that tech-restriction. Limits his kid to 1.5h screen time per week.

Evan Spiegel
Evan Spiegel
Founder of Snapchat

Didn't allow his 4 kids smartphones or their own computers until they were 14.

Bill Gates
Bill Gates
Founder of Microsoft
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