Following is a question by the Hon Duncan Chiu and a reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (July 15):

Question:

     In recent years, many countries around the world have successively enacted legislation to prohibit or restrict adolescents from using social media, and there are views that the Government should consider introducing similar measures. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of enacting legislation to prohibit adolescents from using social media, and the potential impact of such legislation on adolescents, the local Internet industry, the digital economy and the social media ecosystem; if so, of the details;

(2) whether it has studied how to make use of technologies (including age verification technologies, real-name authentication) to effectively prevent minors from accessing undesirable content on social media, on the premise of not hindering the normal operation of the industry; if so, of the findings of the study, and whether it will consult the innovation and technology sector on the feasibility of the relevant technological solutions; and

(3) as overseas experience reportedly indicates that blanket bans may lead adolescents to turn to alternative media that are difficult to regulate, whether the Government has studied an age-based or tiered regulatory model for social media that suits Hong Kong's social environment (e.g. opening up functions by age groups, restricting use during specified periods, etc.) so as to reduce the negative impact of social media on adolescents; if so, of the details?

Reply:

President,

     The Government attaches great importance to the impact of social media on physical and mental health of adolescents. Relevant policy bureaux have been closely monitoring the latest developments and are working to mitigate the impact of social media use on adolescents' health through public education and issuance of relevant guidelines.

     In response to the question raised by the Hon Duncan Chiu, upon consulting the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Health Bureau, our reply are as follows:

(1) When considering measures that may involve banning or restricting Internet use or the content therein, the Government must take into account various relevant factors, such as the impact on the psychological and social development of adolescents, the impact on the local innovation and technology ecosystem and related industries, public expectations on freedom of speech and information, and the overall level of acceptance by the society.

     In particular, any measures involving an outright ban or restriction must take into account the feasibility of actual enforcement and oversight. International experience reveals that even when legislation on online safety for children and adolescents is enacted, achieving effectiveness and striking the right balance in practice remains challenging. Examples include how to accurately verify users' ages, feasibility of enforcement across platforms and borders, and whether such measures would excessively restrict social media platforms from entering and expanding in the Hong Kong market, thereby affecting the overall development of the local innovation and technology and digital ecosystem. The above issues must be subject to in-depth public discussion and a clear consensus must be reached before the Government has a sufficient basis to formulate more specific measures to prohibit or restrict adolescents from using social media. At this stage, the Government has no plan to pursue legislation on banning adolescents from using social media platform, but remain open to issuing guidelines for the relevant platforms to reduce the impact of harmful content on adolescents.

(2) and (3) The use of social media, on one hand, may provide more opportunities for learning and socialising for adolescents while, on the other hand, it may also pose risks related to safety, crime, and health for them.

     We noted that some social media platforms have gradually introduced content filtering for underage users in Hong Kong. These platforms use AI technology to detect users who may be under a specified age, thereby restricting their access to certain types of content or features, and prompting parents or guardians to activate the relevant protective settings.

     The EDB places great emphasis on fostering students' information literacy, and has launched the Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students learning framework, which systematically covers topics such as the safe and responsible use of the Internet and social media, evaluating information, protecting personal data privacy, and preventing cyberbullying across different learning stages from primary to secondary school. This framework aims to cultivate students' critical thinking skills and their ability to use the Internet in an ethical and healthy manner. In addition, the EDB published the Curriculum Framework on Parent Education where promoting the healthy, happy, and balanced development of children and adolescents is one of the key areas. The EDB also encourages parents, through various channels, to establish reasonable rules regarding social media and screen time based on their children's ages and developmental needs, and to work in conjunction with school policies to jointly mitigate related risks.

     In the area of health, the Department of Health (DH) issued updated health recommendations for children and adolescents in 2018 based on the Report of Advisory Group on Health Effects of Use of Internet and Electronic Screen Products. In addition, the 2025 Policy Address pointed out that the DH will update relevant guidelines to mitigate the impact of social media use on the health of children and adolescents. The interdepartmental Advisory Group on Health Effects of Screen and Social Media Use for Children and Adolescents (Advisory Group) was also established in October 2025. Its members include representatives from the DH, the EDB, the Social Welfare Department, the Digital Policy Office, as well as academics and non-governmental organisations. The Advisory group is tasked with reviewing the latest medical and scientific evidence, relevant developments and experiences in other countries and regions, and synthesising the views of experts and stakeholders. It will issue updated health recommendations regarding the use of electronic screens and social media by children and adolescents within 2026.

     Regarding the regulation of obscene or indecent content on the Internet, given the vast volume and rapidly changing nature of online information, the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) has been working with the industry to jointly regulate and handle complaints regarding the online publication of obscene or indecent materials, and also proactively monitors content on online platforms. If content deemed obscene or indecent is discovered, the OFNAA will require the relevant platform to add a warning message or to delete, block, or completely obscure the concerned content. In addition, the OFNAA actively promotes wide range of public education and awareness campaigns, collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance public awareness, particularly among children and adolescents, of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance, encouraging them to stay away from harmful information, and foster a proper understanding of healthy Internet use.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor the latest overseas practices and implementation experiences regarding the regulation of social media use by adolescents, and keep under review the relevant guidelines and measures in Hong Kong in a timely manner and adjusting them as necessary, taking into account the actual circumstances of Hong Kong.

Ends/Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:33

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