Are kids becoming 'digitally addicted'? Carol Ofori’s Moms Moment has parents thinking
South African kids are spending up to nine hours a day on their screens, which increases mental health risks.
On a recent Mom’s Moment with Carol Ofori, the conversation hit a nerve many parents know all too well, but don’t always want to admit:
Are kids becoming too dependent on screens?
From tablets and TVs to phones and gaming consoles, screens have quietly become the unofficial babysitter in many homes.
Convenient? Absolutely. Harmless? Not quite.
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During the discussion, parents admitted something refreshingly honest: sometimes screen time is less about the kids… and more about survival.
You need to cook, answer emails, breathe for five minutes and suddenly Peppa Pig is pulling a double shift.
Although here’s the catch: what starts as a quick distraction can easily turn into hours of daily screen exposure.
Recent insights paint a pretty intense picture of screen habits in South Africa:
- Kids average up to 9 hours 24 minutes of screen time daily
- Teens sit around 8.5 hours a day
- Kids aged 8 to 12 clock about 5.5 hours daily
That’s basically a full-time job… without the payslip.
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Experts are increasingly linking excessive screen exposure to:
- Anxiety and depression
- Poor sleep (hello, 2AM YouTube spirals)
- Lower focus and academic performance
- Reduced social interaction skills
And one stat really stands out: Kids who spend 5+ hours a day on screens are significantly more likely to experience serious mental health struggles.
Listen to the full Mom’s Moment discussion here:
This is where things get real. There’s no “throw the iPad in the ocean” solution (tempting, but illegal… probably).
Instead, the conversation on Mom’s Moment leaned toward balance:
- Set realistic screen limits (not “never again,” just… less)
- Encourage offline activities (yes, outside still exists)
- Be mindful of your own screen habits (kids will clock you scrolling)
- Create tech-free zones or times (like during meals or before bed)
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