South Africans spend more time on screens than almost any other nation, and the obsession is fuelling a growing mental-health crisis among children and adolescents, warns the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop).\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world’s obsession with screens has become so widespread that “brain rot”, a term used to capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media, was named the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IMPACT ALARMINGLY EVIDENT\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adolescents who spend more than five hours a day on digital devices are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts or actions than those who spend less than an hour a day. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even adolescents with moderate screen time of four to six hours a day are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression than those with two hours’ less screen time per day. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A study of 14 countries, reviewing children from pre-primary to high school, found mobile phones consistently distracted students from learning. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply having a phone nearby, especially with notifications coming through, is enough to break their attention. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another study showed that once distracted it can take up to 20 minutes for children to re-focus.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The average South African adult spends more than nine hours and 37 minutes a day on smartphones, with nearly a third of waking hours dedicated to scrolling, swiping and tapping. Social media alone takes up more than 22% of daily usage, led by platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If we as adults are addicted how can they not be?” said Bellville psychiatrist Prof Renata Schoeman, head of health-care leadership at Stellenbosch Business School in Bellville and a member of Sasop. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We cannot expect children to moderate their screen time when they see adults constantly glued to their phones. Children learn by observing. If we don’t model healthy digital behaviour we are silently endorsing screen addiction.”\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said excessive screen time has been linked to numerous mental-health concerns among children, such as increased risk of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem; disrupted sleep due to screen exposure, especially before bedtime, declining academic performance due to reduced concentration, lack of motivation to learn and over-exposure to unregulated content, social withdrawal, with face-to-face interactions replaced by digital substitutes.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The physical consequences are also concerning. Children spending long hours on devices are more prone to obesity, headaches, eye strain and poor posture.”\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schoeman said while technology brings obvious benefits, especially in learning environments, it must be used intentionally and in moderation. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Unrestricted or ‘always on’ access to screens does far more harm than good. We need to teach our children to use technology wisely while not shielding them entirely from it.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s not about banning screens, it’s about balance. There’s a big difference between a family movie night and hours of unmonitored scrolling or gaming. The key is to be mindful, involved and consistent.”\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidelines for parents:\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. Limit screen time by age: no screens under two years; no more than one hour for ages two to five; and ideally, a maximum of two hours a day for older children.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
.Encourage offline time, especially outdoors, to support physical and mental well-being.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. Model responsible digital habits including taking breaks, switching off devices at meals and avoiding screens before bed.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. Maintain device-free zones and times, such as during family meals and before bedtime.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. Take overnight custody of children’s and teens’ devices to ensure proper sleep.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Children don’t need perfection from their parents, they need consistency,” said Schoeman. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Small, daily changes like putting your phone away at dinner sends a powerful message. And right now, our children need that message more than ever.”<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The physical consequences are also concerning. Children spending long hours on devices are more prone to obesity, headaches, eye strain and poor 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