Editorial | Children in Hong Kong need to get online balance right

School is out for summer, but this unusually hot season may be an excuse for many to linger indoors and online. Families hoping to get their children to unplug over the holidays might be concerned about new research showing a worrying number of Hongkongers under the age of 18 may be hooked on the internet.

The Hong Kong Playground Association surveyed more than 4,000 young people last month and learned that 13.7 per cent showed signs of a high tendency towards online addiction. The youth-focused NGO also found more than 15 per cent of secondary school students were at high risk.

It is hard to know how much online time is too much. Children have spent years in pandemic isolation and virtual classrooms and the internet clearly allowed many to keep learning and even thrive despite the challenges.

But a study released last September found that the time primary school pupils spent glued to gadgets tripled to seven hours a day during the pandemic, robbing many of sleep and sufficient exercise.

In cases of internet addiction, signals may include cravings, loss of control and individuals cutting themselves off from family and friends. Some addicts even exhibit classic withdrawal symptoms such as trembling and anxiety.