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More than half of Hong Kong students spent more time gaming during coronavirus pandemic – much to parents’ chagrin, survey finds
- The survey found that three-quarters of the students who reported playing more video games did so to relieve stress
- However, their gaming habits were a source of stress for nearly two-thirds of parents, about half of whom rejected the notion that gaming was an important way for kids to stay in touch
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More than half of Hong Kong students have said they are spending more time playing video games during the Covid-19 pandemic, a new survey has found, much to some parents’ chagrin.
Hong Kong Christian Service, which conducted the poll of more than 2,000 primary and secondary school students, found that young people were turning to gaming to relieve stress and keep in touch with friends after months of isolation under social-distancing rules.
But, the NGO found, if gaming served to relieve stress among students, it had the opposite effect on parents, with many worrying about the amount of time their children spent playing.
Joe Tang Chun-yu, who runs the NGO’s Online Addiction Counselling Centre, said his frontline experience showed some young people indulged in gaming to address a need for growth that might elude them in real life.
“The act of young people playing games sends some signals. It veils young people’s needs, such as feeling dissatisfied and having some troubles in reality,” Tang said.
He said Hong Kong lacked regular services to support youngsters whose interest in gaming and the internet had become unhealthy.
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