lifestyle · SCMP

One in three Hong Kong kindergarten pupils exceeds daily screen time limit, survey finds

SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN

Summary

A comprehensive survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Family Education has revealed that one in three kindergarten pupils in Hong Kong spends at least an hour on social media each day, with more than 80 percent of parent-child conflicts stemming from excessive screen time . The study, released on Wednesday, highlights a growing digital divide between young children and their parents, with recreational screen use rising significantly as children progress through their education. The findings have drawn attention to the need for stricter regulation of children's access to social media platforms .

Key Points

The Hong Kong Institute of Family Education surveyed 302 parents of children from kindergarten to higher education between July 20 and August 8
34.7 percent of kindergarten pupils logged at least one hour of recreational screen time daily, surpassing the Health Department's one-hour guideline for children aged two to five
60 percent of junior secondary students and 66.6 percent of high schoolers exceeded the international two-hour daily screen time limit
63.9 percent of parents reported conflicts with their children over social media use, with 85.5 percent of disputes driven by excessive screen time
78.8 percent of respondents supported legislation setting 16 as the minimum age for social media access

Why It Matters

The survey findings point to a widespread digital dependency among Hong Kong's youngest residents, raising concerns about child development and family dynamics . With nearly eight in ten parents backing legislative measures to restrict social media access for minors, there is clear public appetite for government intervention to protect children's wellbeing in the digital age .