South Africans can’t put their phones down – Highest screen time worldwide

A new study based on Electronics Hub analysis of 45 developed nations reveals South Africa has the highest screen time usage worldwide.

The research team analysed Data Portal’s report and collated it with data from Sleep Cycle, Semrush and Similar Web to understand user behaviour.^[1]

South Africa’s screen time

The study revealed that South Africans spend almost three-fifths (58.2%) of their day in front of a screen – the highest percentage in the world.

In addition, PC users in South Africa are online for more than a quarter of their waking hours (approximately 27%).

A long day online

Data Portal’s findings were backed up by a Meltwater report from January 2023, which showed that South African internet users, on average, spend 9 hours and 38 minutes on the internet, per day.^[2]

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Brazil was a close second, clocking 9 hours and 32 minutes on line per day, followed by the Philippines, Argentina, Columbia and Chile.

At the other end of the spectrum, residents in Austria, South Korea, Germany, Denmark and Japan spend the least amount of time online.

How do we spend our time online?

By browsing social media, of course.

And to be clear, the ‘social media audience’ is quite large – approximately 59% of the world population, or 4.76 billion people.

South Africans spend nearly 23% of their screen time dedicated to scrolling social media.

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According to Statista, 56.5% of South Africa’s population are Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 35.^[3]

How much screen time is too much?

While the world’s population is increasingly using the internet, with 64% of individuals actively online, there is an ongoing debate about what constitutes “too much” screen time.

Some health experts suggest a daily limit of two hours, including video games.

However, Yalda T. Uhls, a psychology professor at UCLA, believes the discussion should focus on the content consumed online rather than the time spent.^[1]

Creating a healthy balance in screen time is crucial for maintaining physical and mental well-being.

Screen time for children

Although moderate internet usage is not inherently harmful, pediatric research from University College London suggests that excessive screen time during adolescence could be linked to physical and mental health issues in adulthood.

However, some parental groups contend that internet use may enhance a child’s emotional intelligence and overall well-being.

Regardless of the online activity, being mindful of the time spent on devices is essential for a healthy lifestyle.

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Source:

^{[1] The Average Screen Time and Usage by Country; Electronics Hub; Rodrigo Navarro, 18 April 2023.
[2] Digital 2023 Deep Dive: Understanding the decline in time spent online, Simon Kemp, 23 January 2023.
[3] Distribution of Facebook users in South Africa as of March 2022, by age group; Statista Research Department, Apr 26, 2023}