Opinion | Don’t leave parents to suffer the fallout of social media overuse
As the alarming impact on young people’s physical and mental health becomes clear, the community must come together to tackle the problem
It is not unusual to see families go out for a meal together but each one is looking at their phone instead of talking to each other. While we enjoy staying connected with each other via social media, the whole community is suffering from its negative effects.
The heavy use of digital devices and social media platforms has led to alarming consequences for young people. In Hong Kong, the most recent Student Health Service annual health report highlights concerns that “excessive and inappropriate use of internet and electronic screen products can negatively affect many aspects of children’s physical, psychosocial and mental health development”.
But what’s to be done? Asking today’s teenagers to unplug completely can feel like removing them from their primary social sphere. Such an abrupt change in their routine could lead to conflict between parent and child.