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online every day - mainly on social networking websites - shows it is time for social service groups to change their 'outdated' practices and go online, social workers say.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.