There is no agreement among teachers and parents in Hong Kong regarding the implementation of an outright prohibition on electronic devices, similar to what is observed in certain nations.
After Kwun Tong Maryknoll College in Hong Kong stated it would enforce stricter regulations regarding cell phones on school grounds, certain students responded with significant resistance, leading the Catholic all-boys institution to temporarily suspend the proposed modifications.
The high school, which at present only prohibits students from using their cellphones within the premises, intended to make it necessary for gadgets to be kept in specific lockers located on every floor. Playing games close to the school’s main gate would have been prohibited as well, with those who violated the rules receiving four penalty points.
A Form Five student named James Chan* was part of a group that started a petition opposing what they called a "strict" rule. He mentioned that requiring over 120 students in the same year level to collect their phones from one lockers section during lunch break would cause everyday disorder. He also noted that numerous students depend on their mobile devices to place and settle food orders online.
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Chan argued that making the rules stricter would not be fair since some students violated them more frequently. However, Chan acknowledged that he and his peers did check their phones during class.
"Some lessons are boring ... so we choose to scroll on our phones to kill time," he said, adding that they had also used their phones to socialise during recess, such as creating reels on social media platforms together.
He mentioned that he uses his phone for six hours during weekdays and as much as eight hours on weekends, spending an average of five hours per day on WhatsApp conversations with friends. His parents do not impose any limits on his screen time. However, students understand where to set boundaries, he added.
"It is we who face the consequences of our exam outcomes and the DSE [Diploma of Secondary Education], and we understand the impact mobile devices have on us. In reality, we are more conscious than adults assume," he stated.
Initially, the school intended to introduce the new regulations for Year 10 and Year 11 pupils as part of a pilot program in April, with plans to later apply them across all grades. Nevertheless, resistance led to reconsideration.
"The guidelines for the phone storage system are currently being reviewed, with the school planning to keep engaging with all relevant parties, such as parents and students," Principal Caroline Sin Nga-lam stated.
The school's change of direction has brought attention to the controversial aspects of this matter, as some believe smartphones are essential for transportation and financial transactions, whereas others worry about the risks of social media dependency and how it affects young people's growth.
In Hong Kong, mobile phone policies on school campuses are determined independently by each institution. Educators and parents interviewed by the South China Morning Post did not agree on implementing an overall prohibition, which exists in certain nations.
Mobile phone plans
Since 2018, France has implemented a country-wide restriction on students attending primary and middle schools using mobile phones, with numerous educational establishments mandating that gadgets remain stored in bags or cabinets throughout the day. Additionally, there have been talks about extending this policy to high schools beginning in the 2026–27 school term.
In the UK, authorities implemented a legal restriction prohibiting mobile phones in publicly funded schools across England beginning June 29, requiring educational institutions to ensure students turn off or keep their gadgets aside during school hours.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed proposals in June regarding a restriction on social media use for anyone younger than 16, following the approach taken by Australia—the first nation globally to implement similar measures in December 2025.
In 2024, Hong Kong's Education Secretary, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, stated during her response to an inquiry about mobile device policies on school grounds that institutions must implement regulations legally, logically, and appropriately, while maintaining equity and uniformity in enforcement, as well as upholding students' self-respect.
Ng Wun-kit, headmaster of Pui Kiu Secondary School and a legislative council member, stated that mobile phone regulations should continue to be managed by individual schools, since each institution must take into account its specific situation, including administrative requirements and available storage facilities.
"As with our school, students reside in various areas across Hong Kong and depend on using public transportation, which might involve tapping their phones daily for ticket payments. Parents could also like to be aware of their locations after classes end," he mentioned.
Ginny Wong, a sixth-form student from Po Leang Ku Yau Ling Sun College in Tsuen Wan, mentioned that her school will also ask students to store their mobile devices when they arrive on campus next term, though no specific consequences have been outlined yet.
She mentioned that she spends approximately six hours per weekday using screens, primarily engaging with social media through her mobile device and utilizing her tablet for online lessons and digital design applications out of personal enthusiasm. There are no limitations set by her parents.
Wong mentioned that her school has implemented a policy prohibiting the use of cellphones on campus, although the implementation has been somewhat relaxed.
"Up until now, no one has challenged the [new] policy at school, since educators are flexible regarding phone usage and students have been very compliant," she stated.
Terrence Nam, the acting chairperson of the Kowloon City District Federation of Parents' Teachers Associations, mentioned that numerous secondary schools have introduced phone lockers or supplied students with tablets or simpler gadgets for restricted communication, aiming to reduce excessive dependence on AI in education.
He stated that effective communication was essential for enacting these policies.
He stated that the school needs to inform parents about the reasons behind this policy, and there must also be in-school counseling to guarantee equity.
He mentioned that although parents viewed mobile phones as important possessions, they were also worried about the risk of losing them or students displaying them at school. Nam proposed that lockers should not all be placed in a single location to prevent overcrowding.
Robert Board, the creator of Look Up Hong Kong – a parent-driven organization established in April 2024 aimed at postponing young people's access to smartphones – stated that electronic gadgets should not be present in bedrooms or classrooms, allowing kids to enjoy genuine childhood experiences.
He emphasized the significance of cooperation between parents and schools, pointing out that over 500 parents from more than 100 institutions had joined the group's Smartphone Delay Pledge by May. This self-selected agreement entails not providing smartphones to kids until they reach age 14, with an extended aim of preventing their access to social media until they are 16.
"Our team has conducted digital skills training sessions in various schools throughout Hong Kong," he mentioned.
We guide parents on understanding social media and effective communication with their kids, while also educating children to think critically about online material, regardless of whether it's damaging or false.
'Instant rewards'
CEO John Lee Ka-chiu stated during his policy speech last October that the administration planned to update regulations to reduce the influence of online platforms on children.
In April, the Health Office informed the legislative body: "Considering that social media significantly affects the psychological well-being of young people, the Mental Health Advisory Panel, following discussion, recommended that the Health Department revise the corresponding regulations."
The Ministry of Health has formed a multidisciplinary expert advisory committee to examine recent medical and scientific findings, drawing upon related advancements and practices in various nations and areas, aiming to release revised guidelines regarding children's and teenagers' usage of screens and social media by 2026.
Dr. Cindy Lau Cin-yee from the Chinese University of Hong Kong cautioned that overusing phones might lead to physical issues which can impact students' academic success.
She stated, 'Social media offers immediate gratification and triggers dopamine, a chemical that may lead adolescents to develop an addiction to their gadgets.'
She mentioned that extended screen exposure might alter the brain's structure, decreasing white matter and resulting in reduced cognitive processing speed and issues with focus.
"Enforcing phone limits today is difficult because students can quickly bypass these measures," she stated.
The best approach to decrease smartphone usage involves steady guidance from parents and schools, like establishing a household agreement focused on less screen time. Pupils should also develop self-awareness abilities to evaluate how they interact with their devices.
Annis Fung Lai-chu, a lecturer in social and behavioral studies at City University, carried out research during 2024–25 examining adolescents' screen exposure, discovering that they spent twice as much time on screens compared to adults—six to seven hours daily.
Fung proposed that educators and learners ought to set shared limits concerning mobile device usage within the school premises.
She stated, 'Educators must recognize the strong connection students feel toward their gadgets, since consuming media plays a role in how teenagers define themselves.'
Simultaneously, learners must stay mindful of the bodily and psychological impacts of dependency.
Fung mentioned that although numerous regions, including Mainland China, have introduced stringent "no-phones-on-campus" rules, Hong Kong needs to speed up its legal initiatives and promote collective activities like scouting, ensuring that mobile phones do not continue to be the only means through which teenagers gain self-worth and social approval.
"Recently, we've observed an increase in instances of student suicides linked to disputes involving mobile phones between young people and their parents or schools," Fung stated.
It is better to implement a mobile phone restriction policy gradually, involving students to achieve an agreement.
Balanced lifestyles
Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, head of the HKU Center for Suicide Studies and Prevention, pointed out severe instances of mobile device dependency, such as a case involving a young person who ended their life following their mother taking away their phone.
He cautioned that mobile device dependency might result in hikikomori - A Japanese concept referring to extreme social isolation - which may eventually act as a contributing element to suicide when triggered by recent events like familial disputes.
Although data repeatedly connects heavy mobile phone usage with negative effects on mental well-being, Yip mentioned that studies had shortcomings in examining the specific activities users engaged in on their devices.
"Students can utilize their phones for completing assignments, which is entirely acceptable; the problem arises when they overuse them during free time," Yip stated, mentioning that he is currently studying what defines appropriate mobile phone usage.
He highlighted that content and the surrounding way of life were important, pointing out that the effect of an educational game varied significantly from that of a violent one.
He stated, 'Spending five hours engaged in outdoor activities can neutralize and balance out the harmful impacts of using a phone for five hours.'
The core problem isn't merely how many hours people spend using their phones, but rather the actions they take afterward to ensure a well-rounded life. We should keep the phone as a tool that assists with tasks, not a ruler that controls our existence.
Yip also showed understanding towards parents trapped in a difficult situation: providing kids with phones for a brief respite or taking away gadgets and potentially causing arguments.
He observed that adults’ personal smartphone dependencies hindered their ability to convince their kids. Yip further emphasized that grown-ups needed to recognize children’s fear of missing out, known as FOMO, since being disconnected frequently kept them away from important conversations with peers regarding popular games.
Yip explored the origins of addiction linked to technology firms and their deceptive algorithms, arguing that these companies should be penalized for deliberately crafting services to keep users engaged.
He referenced a significant court decision in Los Angeles, wherein a jury determined that Meta and YouTube were responsible in March for negatively impacting a young woman due to their engaging platform structure, directing them to compensate with $6 million in damages.
Yip recommended that the Hong Kong authorities provide formal guidelines regarding smartphone dependency, instead of assigning full accountability to educational institutions.
At present, the Education Department recommends that when students are believed to exhibit addictive tendencies, educators should advise their parents to consult with teachers or school counselors.
In 2022, an investigation conducted by scholars from multiple Hong Kong higher education establishments along with the Hong Kong School Counselors Association gathered data from 2,770 pupils across six elementary and four middle schools.
The research uncovered concerning rates of overuse of screens: 31.8% of students mentioned engaging in online gaming nonstop for five hours or longer, including one instance where someone played for 60 hours. At the same time, 42% stated they viewed videos without interruption for more than five hours, with a maximum recorded duration of 90 hours.
The research revealed that 12.6 percent of elementary and high school students exhibited strong signs of becoming addicted to online games.
The findings further pointed out significant issues related to mental well-being, as nearly 49.1 percent of students reported having moderate to severe feelings of depression, while 53.3 percent faced moderate to severe levels of anxiety.
Yip mentioned that the engineers involved in creating addictive applications were intelligent, yet he doubted their understanding of psychological matters.
A Form Six student named Wong stated that adopting an uncompromising stance against a prohibition without dialogue or proper reasoning would not yield positive outcomes.
"Although the school may have 100 methods for collecting phones, students will always find 100 different ways to sneakily use them," she stated.
* Interviewee requested a name change during the interview.
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