Her warning comes amid growing alarm over the impact of digital device use on youth mental health.
Speaking in her capacity as a member of the SA Society of Psychiatrists, Schoeman says screen addiction among children is becoming a silent epidemic, one that is being fuelled not only by time spent online, but by what children are exposed to and how it affects their developing brains.
“There is no doubt about it, excessive screen time is harming our children,” she said. “We are seeing a marked rise in anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and even suicidal ideation, and we cannot ignore the data any longer.”
Schoeman, who also heads Healthcare Leadership at the Stellenbosch Business School, points to mounting evidence showing that digital overstimulation disrupts dopamine regulation in the brain, affecting attention, motivation and emotional regulation.
She explains that much of the damage comes not just from the content, such as the endless scroll of unrealistic social media images, but also from the neurological and lifestyle shifts caused by constant digital engagement. “It’s not just the mental effects. Children are sitting more, sleeping less, moving less and their wellbeing is paying the price.”
With South Africans among the heaviest screen users in the world, the warning is especially urgent. Schoeman says families need to rethink what rest and relaxation should look like. “Downtime doesn’t mean screen time. It should mean real-world connection, talking, playing, walking, being in nature.”
The problem, she adds, is that parents are often modelling the very behaviour they’re trying to discourage in their children. “If we want children to unplug, adults have to unplug too. We’re not going to out-parent the phone by spending our own evenings glued to it.”
Schoeman recommends a household “tech contract” that includes clear rules, like no phones at the dinner table, no devices in bedrooms, and a shared charging station in a central place in the house. “It’s about consistency, not punishment. And if you take the screen away, replace it with something else. Quality time, a board game, a walk, something that gives the child what they’re really looking for: attention and connection.”
She acknowledges that managing screen time has become more difficult in the context of online learning and hybrid education models. However, she draws a clear distinction between educational and recreational use. “We’re not saying school-related screen time is the problem. The issue is what happens after gaming, doom scrolling, TikTok binges. That’s where the risk lies.”
Some SA schools are already locking devices into secure, educational-only settings, a move she applauds. “The idea isn’t to cut children off from technology. It’s to equip them to use it wisely and safely. And that starts with the adults in their lives.”
--ChannelAfrica--
