The majority of Hongkongers can’t do without their smartphones, with over 60% of the city’s residents admitting that they’re addicted to their devices. According to a survey by language learning app Preply, 63.4% of the territory’s residents acknowledge their smartphone addiction, with 76.5% considering reducing their smartphone usage.
The survey — which was conducted on 1,000 Hong Kong residents in June 2024 — found that Gen Z led the pack in terms of smartphone addiction, with 66.7% of them admitting they used their devices too much, followed very closely by Millennials (66.3%). Respondents said they spent the most time playing games (29.7%), watching videos and streaming content (28.1%), and browsing social media (27.5%) — dedicating more than three hours a day every day to these activities.
Work productivity is also impacted by phone addiction, with 72.5% of those surveyed saying they spend 1–4 hours daily on personal activities during work hours. Most of those surveyed said they spend 1–2 hours on their devices (38.8%) while at the office, and 33.7% confessed to using their gadgets for 3–4 hours at work.
In addition, more than half of respondents use phones while on public transportation, in bed, and during meals — with almost 10% confessing to risky behaviours like texting or browsing while driving. Interestingly, one out of five Hongkongers admitted missing in-person conversations due to phone distraction, experiencing phantom vibrations, and feeling anxious when their phone is not within reach.
However, 76.5% of respondents have considered or taken action to avoid phone addiction, with 10.7% saying they would consult a psychologist and 15.3% saying they use apps or screen time features to curtail their addiction. Additionally, 95.8% of Hong Kong parents admitted that they use smartphones to keep their children occupied, with most respondents saying they do this while engaged in housework or cooking (23.5%) and during restaurant outings (22%).
When respondents were asked what they would do if they had to go a week without their phones, spending time with family and friends and engaging in outdoor sports or activities (both 37%) topped the list, and only 5.6% said they’d never go a week without their devices.
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