Your Voice: Responsible social media use, mental health issues and harmful effects of helicopter parenting

A video interview of three innocent Primary Six graduates from Yaumati Catholic Primary School has gone viral on social media, sparking a wave of concern and reflection.

Chen Kaihao, Jiang Yuxuan, and Xu Jiajie all got into their preferred secondary schools and were interviewed by the media.

While Kaihao stood in the middle and gave appropriate answers, his classmate Yuxuan was the star of the video, giving expressive responses each time Kaihao shared his intensive study schedule.

While some netizens expressed concern about the academic pressure shown in the video, others found the surprise on their naive faces amusing.

After the video spread like wildfire, a host of local influencers, from YouTube content creators to Instagram singers, imitated the students with amplified expressions or mocked them through their lyrics. Upon initial viewing, they did give me a good laugh. I couldn’t help but look up to these charismatic geniuses who possessed immeasurable wit and brightened our monotonous lives.

However, I soon realised that wasn’t true. They are clout-chasers who will go to great lengths to garner attention at the expense of these innocent children, who don’t deserve malicious judgment for simply being their true selves.

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School-age minors are years away from cultivating a mature mindset, rendering them incapable of coping with hateful words. They base their identity on external opinion, causing negative self-perception. These crude renditions incorporating exaggerated expressions and merciless lyrics have circulated quickly, revealing a noteworthy issue – do we viewers prioritise our perverse joy over these students’ mental well-being?

It’s worth pondering whether certain types of humour are appropriate. Although the school principal has clarified that the three students remain unaffected by netizens’ comments, it’s important to use social media responsibly in this digital age.

Content creators should allow their creative juices to flow but be mindful of what they put out. There are ethical concerns about using children as clickbait, and it’s wise to consider humorous approaches that don’t inflict psychological harm. As internet users, we should also be wary of our content consumption and opt for entertainment that doesn’t take a toll on others, especially young children. We all have a role to play in this digital ecosystem.

Crystal Cen, Hong Kong Adventist Academy

Anxiety is part of growing up. You might worry about family problems, finances, health, appearance, or whether you deserve something – like admission to your dream university. We have repeatedly been told that anxiety is normal and that we should stop worrying. Still, it is important to recognise the overwhelming impact of anxiety and embrace the essence of it.

Pixar’s latest animated hit, Inside Out 2, is a remarkable example of the potent presence of anxiety among teenagers. In this sequel, Riley is going through puberty and experiences new emotions like anxiety. As the driving antagonist, Anxiety overrides the other emotions, filling Riley with immense doubt and pre-planning.

In 2023, research conducted by the University of Hong Kong revealed that more than 25 per cent of young Hongkongers aged 15-24 were found to have mental health issues. Meanwhile, 16.6 per cent of those polled have experienced at least one of five mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder.

Like the character’s bouncy figure, fuzzy texture, and enlarged features, Anxiety metaphorically aligns with the feeling it creates. Being anxious can feel like a bundle of fear and panic – you may twitch and deal with an abnormally fast heartbeat.

While anxiety disorder is a common mental health issue, generalised symptoms do not mean it is less intense or there is less need for support or treatment. Anxiety disorder is challenging to control; it is remarkably distressing and gets worse over time if ignored.

Symptoms of anxiety disorder do not develop suddenly; they may have begun in childhood or adolescence and continue to get more severe while growing up. For instance, sudden panic attacks, excessive worrying, feeling helpless, and being avoidant can all be symptoms of this disorder.

Perhaps it can feel like a burden to seek help on top of the distress you feel already, yet if you or your peers are suffering from similar symptoms, you should not pretend it doesn’t exist.

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Embracing anxiety does not mean accepting it. Instead, it means being conscious of its impact and understanding it is not something to brush off. Thoughts like “I am not good enough” may sound familiar, but it is essential not to allow any single emotion to define who you are. The same is true in Inside Out 2; every emotion coexists, and they all play a role in crafting what the unique, complex, and vibrant part of every human being is.

Anxiety can be scary, and it may be uncontrollable for some. Like the orange chaos in the movie, anxiety is passively violent but can be frozen and unsure amid a quicksand of worries. The truth is the dominance of self-protection masked under anxious thoughts is indeed messy. You may not know how to respond or find a route out of the tension. However, it is essential to recognise that it is a part of ourselves, and being anxious or suffering from anxiety disorder is not wrong. Instead, it is the essence of what completes our other emotions, and embracing it means forgiving ourselves for its existence while not ignoring what it means.

Bethany Tham Hei-kiu, Pui Kiu College

It is not surprising that tracking technology has become more advanced. However, it is astonishing that parents misuse these devices to monitor their children’s every move.

While the intention behind monitoring children is often to ensure their safety and well-being, it is vital to strike a balance between protecting them and fostering their independence. Constant monitoring can hinder their development of problem-solving skills and lead to mistrust. In the long term, this can strain relationships and create communication barriers.

To foster children’s growth, these “helicopter parents” should let go of their hold and let their child make their own decisions. Children need the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and develop their sense of responsibility. When parents overly scrutinise their every move, it deprives them of the chance to explore the world in their own way. It will also make them reliant on their parents, which can cause more problems when they enter adulthood.

In a nutshell, it is important to find the right balance between keeping children safe and being overly protective. Parents should give their child enough space to learn and grow and help them navigate challenges when needed. Their role in finding this balance is crucial and can significantly impact a child’s development.