Study: Hong Kong residents recognize smartphone addiction & consider cutting back

Hongkongers are addicted to smartphones and are considering cutting back. Discover usage patterns and alternative activities across generations.
Cristina Miguelez

Are you addicted to your phone? In Hong Kong, it’s common to see people glued to their screens everywhere, from waiting in queues to riding the MTR, Hong Kong’s efficient and widely-used metro system, or dining at restaurants.

With so many apps available and screen time increasing, smartphone addiction is on the rise. Many Hongkongers are aware of their addiction and are considering or taking steps to reduce their usage. We at Preply, a language learning platform and app providing lessons with English teachers or Mandarin online tutors, recently surveyed 1,000 Hongkongers about their smartphone habits. Key findings indicate that 63.4% recognize smartphone addiction and 76.5% are actively considering or taking steps to cut back, particularly among teenagers, or Gen Z. So, how are Hongkongers dealing with their smartphone addiction?

Key takeaways

  • 63.4% of Hong Kong residents acknowledge smartphone addiction and 76.5% have taken steps or are considering reducing their phone use
  • 95.8% of parents in Hong Kong use phones to occupy children for “me time”
  • 72.5% of workers in Hong Kong spend 1-4 hours daily on personal phone activities during work hours
  • More than 25% of Hongkongers spend 3+ hours daily on entertainment, including playing games, watching videos, and browsing social media platforms
  • Gen Z and Millennials spend the most time watching videos and streaming content, while Gen X and Baby Boomers focus on browsing social media
  • Over 38.5% of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z confess to using their phones in bed until very late, significantly affecting their sleep schedules.
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Nearly two-thirds of Hongkongers admit smartphone addiction

In Hong Kong, phone addiction is widely acknowledged, with 63.4% of residents agreeing they are addicted. We also observed that 59.3% of males admit to being dependent on their phones, compared to 68.8% of females, highlighting that women are more likely to struggle with this issue.

How addicted to smartphones are Hongkongers

Additionally, data indicates that women are more likely to spend 3+ hours on social media (35.9%), video streaming (34.3%), and playing online games (30.6%), surpassing their male counterparts in these activities, who report 21.0%, 23.3%, and 28.9% respectively.

Younger generations are also more aware of their addiction, with two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials admitting their dependence on phones. In contrast, only about one in five Baby Boomers recognize their phone addiction. These findings stress the need for solutions to manage and reduce compulsive phone use.

Hongkongers’ smartphone activities revealed

Hongkongers engage in various activities on their phones daily, with some habits standing out more than others. Indeed, we found a strong preference for entertainment, with more than 25% of Hongkongers spending over three hours daily playing games, watching videos and streaming content on Netflix, YouTube and more, and social media platforms.

Daily smartphone activities Hongkongers spend at least 3 hours on

Listening to music and podcasts (22.7%) and communicating via calls or messages (20.4%) are the next on the list of the most frequent activities.

Although probably unexpected, photography is not on top of the list, and you’ll be surprised to know the most captured subject is not selfies, food pictures, or pictures of your kids, but outdoor and street scenes (7.5 pictures per week)! Gen X, in particular, shows a penchant for food photography, with more than 50% taking 1-5 pictures of meals weekly.

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Smartphone usage differences across generations in Hong Kong

What each generation does most and least on their phones in Hong Kong

Smartphones are widely used across generations in Hong Kong, but we found that their usage varies significantly. Gen Z and Millennials spend the most time watching videos and streaming content, while Gen X and Baby Boomers focus on browsing social media.

Gen Z and Millennials share the same favorite activities, but Gen Z tends to spend more time on average engaging in them. In contrast, Gen X and Boomers spend significantly less time on these activities. For instance, 75.2% of Gen Z and 63.7% of Millennials spend at least one hour on social media, whereas only 38.1% of Boomers do the same. Additionally, 29.4% of Hongkongers do not spend any time on educational activities, and 16.3% of Gen Z, 7.6% of Millennials, and 8.8% of Gen X do not read the news at all, the survey reveals.

On the other hand, Gen Z spends the least time on online shopping, Millennials on educational activities, Gen X on photo-taking and editing, and Baby Boomers on listening to music and podcasts.

We also found that almost 50% of Millennials and Gen Z rely heavily on emojis, memes, and stickers to express emotions, while only 17.4% of Baby boomers do the same. Overall, one-third of Hongkongers use their phones to stay connected with distant friends and family, with Gen X showing more reliance.

Over 95% of parents in Hong Kong use smartphones for childcare

Our research also found that up to 95.8% of parents in Hong Kong use cell phones to occupy their children for some “me time”. The most common situations include when they are doing housework, dining out at restaurants, or using transportation, revealing that smartphones have become a handy tool for parents as a quick distraction for their kids.

95.8% of Hong Kong parents use smartphones to occupy their kids

41% of Hongkongers say late-night phone use hurts their sleep

Apart from the type of phone activities, we also asked how Hongkongers use their phones daily. Generally speaking, more than half of respondents use phones while on public transportation, in bed and during meals, which echoes entertainment being the most popular activity on phones.

Where do Hongkongers check their smartphone the most

What’s interesting here is that traditionally, using screens before sleep is considered bad for health as it disrupts the sleep cycle, hence it is no surprise only 30.4% of Baby boomers use their phones in bed but 47.8% would use them while watching TV. Yet, the younger the generation, the more likely they are to use their phones in bed, as over 50% of Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z admit to doing so, contrasting with traditional recommendations.

Our findings also reveal that many people are aware of the negative effects of excessive smartphone use. Most respondents reported sleep disruption, anxiety about battery life, constant notifications, and late-night videos and games as the most frequent situations they have experienced when using their smartphone. This highlights that fear of missing out (FOMO), a constant worry about missing something, and sleep disturbances are key issues linked with smartphone addiction.

In addition, 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. Another concerning finding is that almost 10% confessed to risky behaviours like texting or browsing while driving.

The impact of smartphone addiction at work

Work productivity is also impacted by phone addiction, with 72.5% spending 1-4 hours daily on personal activities during work hours. Teenagers, or Gen Z, are the most distracted, with nearly 50% spending more than 3 hours per day on personal affairs, significantly higher than other generations.

72.5% of Hongkongers spend 1-4 hours daily on personal phone use at work

Moreover, more females than males reported attending to personal matters on their phones at work. Besides, while one out of three Baby boomers claimed they don’t use their cell phones for personal activities at all during work hours, less than 10% of other generations reported the same.

How are Hongkongers dealing with smartphone addiction?

Notably, 76.5% have considered or taken action to avoid phone addiction, with nearly a quarter reporting they have consulted a psychologist or used apps or screen time features for addiction. Across all generations, Gen Z, in particular, demonstrated a proactive approach to managing digital habits, with 60.7% having attempted to get help with phone addiction and 24.1% considering or planning to do so in the future.

However, the trend is reversed among Baby boomers, with 73.9% not seeing the need to stop their usage, and only 4.4% having taken steps. According to our findings, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby boomers are less likely to get help with phone addiction, while Gen Z shows a remarkable shift.

How would Hongkongers spend a week without their smartphones

If Hongkongers go a week without their phones, what would they do? Our survey reveals the top two activities: spending time with family and friends, a choice favoured by Millennials, Gen X and Baby boomers, and engaging in outdoor activities. Gen Z, however, prefers outdoor activities and focusing on hobbies, showing a preference for personal over social activities. Interestingly, 5.5% admitted they would never go a week without their cell phone.

This shift highlights how smartphone use impacts activities like language learning, which thrives on focused time and dedication. At Preply, we specialize in language learning solutions tailored for busy lifestyles. By recognizing moments typically occupied by phone use – whether it’s commuting, waiting in line, or relaxing at home – we encourage individuals to redirect some of that time towards self-improvement, like learning a new language with our app. With Preply, you can schedule 1:1 lessons with French teachers or Japanese tutors at your convenience, making better use of your smartphone.

Methodology

Preply surveyed 1,000 Hong Kong residents about their smartphone addictions and usage. This study was finalized in June 2024. The data is based on self-reported answers, meaning respondents may have had biases.

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Cristina Miguelez
Cristina Miguelez
13 articles

Cristina Miguelez is a Digital PR specialist with seven years of experience in the field. Having studied Translation and Interpreting at the University of Alicante, she is proficient in Spanish, English, and French. She combines her passion for languages and storytelling to write about captivating stories and cultural curiosities. Her goal is to help her readers discover the remarkable values inherent in language learning.

Cristina Miguelez is a Digital PR specialist with seven years of experience in the field. Having studied Translation and Interpreting at the University of Alicante, she is proficient in Spanish, English, and French. She combines her passion for languages and storytelling to write about captivating stories and cultural curiosities. Her goal is to help her readers discover the remarkable values inherent in language learning.

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