Hong Kong should follow international peers in legislating to bar children under 16 from social media to combat cyberbullying and addiction, education experts and lawmakers have said, while stressing the need for broad social consensus.
At a panel discussion on Saturday to examine proposals to restrict social media access for under-16s, educators and lawmakers argued that legislation was needed to signal the government’s stance and drive efforts to prevent the next generation from being harmed by such platforms.
Lilian Chan Lui Ling-yee, honorary president of the Yan Oi Association of Principals and a seasoned educator, said social media addiction was the biggest problem facing education and that legislation was required to protect children.
“Some say that whether we ban it or not, children will still face the same environment, but I do not agree. If we do not legislate, the future of our next generation will be lost,” Chan, who has served as principal at different schools, said.
“Social media addiction is irreversible – you lose your judgment, like losing a compass at sea. Legislation will raise public awareness about protecting children from harmful content on social media, such as pornography and cyberbullying.”
A survey by the policy group New Youth Forum interviewed 686 randomly selected residents aged 18 or above between May 22 and June 5. It found 61.8 per cent of respondents backed legislation restricting under-16s from social media, with support rising to 76.3 per cent among parents.
