Screen addiction fuelling crisis among SA’s children

MENTAL HEALTH

- STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH Africans are among the world’s heaviest screen users, and it’s taking a dangerous toll on children’s mental health.

That's the stark warning from the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop), which has raised the alarm about a growing crisis among children and adolescents driven by excessive exposure to digital devices.

The rise of what’s now commonly referred to as “brain-rot”, a term coined to describe the harmful impact of consuming large volumes of low-quality online content, was underscored when the Oxford Dictionary named it Word of the Year. But beyond the headlines, its effects are being felt most acutely by young people.

Data shows adolescents who spend more than five hours a day on screens are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts or actions than their peers who clock in less than an hour daily. Even moderate users, those on screens for four to six hours, show significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression than those with shorter exposure.