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Get Net-savvy, youth social workers urged

Adrian Wan

A survey showing that young people spend about three hours online every day - mainly on social networking websites - shows it is time for social service groups to change their 'outdated' practices and go online, social workers say.

It is also time for the government to pump in tens of millions of dollars to help solve the problem, they say.

'Non-government organisations should proactively develop online services to address the needs of the community and to reach them through various online platforms, especially our youngsters,' Christine Fang Meng-sang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, said yesterday.

She told social workers and information technology experts at NGO Day 2010 the survey strengthened the case for the government to allocate resources for online projects against such Net-based capers as compensated dating and drug parties.

The council, which supports the 370 agencies and organisations that deliver about 90 per cent of local welfare services, hoped the government would approve its HK$40 million proposal, submitted two months ago, so 'the problems can be controlled before it's too late', she said.

Most social services reach out to troubled youth physically and few operate online.

Commissioned by the council and Microsoft Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong's public opinion programme surveyed more than 800 people aged 12 to 23 in April and May on their Net use, particularly social networking habits and security.

It found all young people use the Net and are online on average 20 hours a week. About 90 per cent use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, with half citing them as the main purpose for being online.

Eighty per cent said they were not monitored while online, and the same percentage were concerned about online privacy and security.

More than 40 per cent know installing anti-virus software and withholding personal information can protect their privacy, but only a third did so. The computers of one in five had been hacked or hit by viruses.

About a third had had security problems; of these, 7 per cent had their photos or personal data published by others, 6 per cent had been bullied and 5 per cent had met people who used others' identities.

Social worker Prausa Wong Sau-wah agreed that online social services for the young were scarce. 'The way we reach out to them is outdated,' she said. 'I hope more funds will go to projects that strive to locate troubled youngsters. Hardly any exist now.'

However, she said most young people preferred direct counselling when faced with problems, so existing methods had to continue. 'Education is key to the issue because many young people don't know what's right or wrong on the Net.'

Net attention

Number of hours spent online per week (%)

Less than 1 hour: <1 1-5 hours: 12 5-10 hours: 21 10-15 hours: 16 15-20 hours: 11 20-25 hours: 11 25-30 hours: 10 30-40 hours: 8 40-50 hours: 5 More than 50 hours: 5 Don't know/hard to say: 1

Number of hours spent on social networking sites per week (%)

Less than 1 hour: 8 1-2 hours: 20 2-4 hours: 20 4-6 hours: 11 6-8 hours: 12 8-10 hours: 9 10-15 hours: 7 15-20 hours: 5 More than 20 hours: 7 Don't know/hard to say: 1

SOURCE: HKU POP

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