NATIONAL NEWS - South Africans are among the world’s most screen-obsessed, spending over nine hours and 37 minutes daily on smartphones, with social media consuming 22% of that time, warns the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop).
This digital fixation, dubbed ‘brain-rot’ by the Oxford Dictionary’s 2024 Word of the Year, is driving a mental health crisis among children and adolescents.
Adolescents using devices over five hours daily are 70% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or actions compared to those with under an hour.
Even four to six hours of screen time increases anxiety and depression risks. Studies show mobile phones distract learners, with notifications breaking focus and requiring up to 20 minutes to regain concentration, harming academic performance.
Excessive screen time is linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, disrupted sleep, social withdrawal and exposure to harmful content like cyberbullying.
Physical effects include obesity, headaches, eye strain and poor posture. Prof Renata Schoeman of Sasop notes: “If adults are addicted, how can children not be? We must model healthy digital habits.”
Schoeman advocates balanced technology use: no screens for children under two, one hour for ages two to five, and two hours maximum for older children.
Parents should encourage offline activities, maintain device-free zones, and store devices overnight. “It’s about consistency, not perfection,” she says. Small changes, like device-free dinners, can protect South Africa’s youth from screen addiction’s toll. Compiled by Michelle Pienaar
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