Lost in the Feed: Understanding Teen Social Media Addiction

It starts innocently enough. A few minutes on TikTok between classes. A quick scroll through Instagram before bed. A WhatsApp voice note that turns into a two-hour chat. But for many South African teens, those moments of screen time have quietly turned into something more concerning—compulsive, even addictive behaviour that is affecting their mental health, academic performance and ability to form real-world relationships.

Globally, studies show that teens spend an average of 4 to 7 hours a day on social media. In South Africa, the 2024 Digital Report by DataReportal reveals that teens aged 13 to 18 spend nearly five hours a day on social platforms, with YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp being the most used. While these platforms offer entertainment, connection and even educational value, overuse is leading to worrying trends: anxiety, disrupted sleep, lower self-esteem, cyberbullying and in more severe cases, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

What Does Social Media Addiction Look Like?

Social media addiction does not always show up as extreme behaviour. Often it hides in plain sight. Teens may appear irritable or anxious when separated from their phone. They may check notifications compulsively during lessons or meals. Some may sleep with their phones under the pillow and wake multiple times in the night to scroll. Grades may slip, but more subtly, so might their mood. You may notice a loss of interest in offline hobbies, growing isolation from family and friends, or a preoccupation with online validation—likes, comments, shares.

What makes this form of addiction so insidious is that it mimics normal teenage behaviour. We assume all teens are glued to their phones. But there is a difference between enjoyment and dependence. And that line is often crossed without anyone noticing.

Why Are Parents and Educators Missing It?

In many homes and schools, social media use has become so normalised that the red flags no longer stand out. Educators are overwhelmed with academic pressures and stretched resources, while many parents themselves are navigating digital distractions in their own lives. There is also the generational gap. Many adults did not grow up with smartphones and may not fully grasp how social platforms tap into teen vulnerabilities with precision: reward loops, algorithms, peer comparison and fear of missing out. Moreover, conversations around digital well-being are often reactive rather than proactive. We wait for the crisis, the panic attack, the plummeting marks, the social withdrawal, before we intervene.

What Can We Do?

The solution is not to demonise social media. It is to help teens use it consciously, with balance and boundaries.

1. Start the conversation early and often.

Talk to teens about how platforms are designed to be addictive. Ask them how certain content makes them feel. Let them reflect rather than react. Create a safe space for honesty, not judgement.

2. Set clear and consistent boundaries.

Help them define screen-free times, meals, bedtime, homework hours, and model these boundaries yourself. Devices out of bedrooms at night is a good place to start.

3. Reclaim offline time.

Encourage physical activity, creative hobbies, and in-person friendships. Many teens are craving connection but feel trapped in online personas. Give them opportunities to rediscover joy away from the screen.

4. Educate yourself.

Understand the platforms your teen uses. Explore parental control options, yes, but more importantly, stay informed about the trends, challenges and influencers shaping your child’s world.

5. Watch the warning signs.

Changes in behaviour, mood swings, secrecy, fatigue, and a decline in academic or social engagement can all be indicators of a deeper issue.

Looking Ahead

In 2023, the World Health Organization officially recognised “digital media overuse” as a growing public health concern. South Africa is not immune. With high smartphone penetration and low data costs on platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp, our teens are as exposed as any.

But we are not powerless.

This is the generation that will write the rules of engagement for a digital future. As parents and educators, our job is not to shut the door on technology. It is to open a dialogue that fosters awareness, responsibility and self-worth. In a world driven by constant connection, we must help them rediscover the value of being present. Because sometimes, the most radical act of love is teaching a teenager how to put the phone down, and look up.