As young people increasingly turn to social media to learn, connect, and express themselves, a recent dialogue at Thusong Youth Centre (TYC) explored the darker side of unchecked use.

Stakeholders raised concerns about exploitation, unrealistic comparisons, and weakened family bonds.

Dialogue facilitator Thumeka Joos said the session aimed to confront the growing influence of social media, especially at a time when schools are grappling with bullying and tribalism.

Read more: Thusong Youth Centre’s donation drive spreads love at East Bank High

TYC programmes manager Chris Ndlovu warned that unmonitored use exposes youth to predatory offers, including older individuals soliciting sexual favours in exchange for money. “It has the potential to lure young people into traps as they are promised financial favours at an age where finances are a real concern,” he said.

Mpho Rivers of Lovelife highlighted the pressure young women face when following influencers. She explained that constant exposure often leads some to aspire to lifestyles they cannot afford. “Lifestyle content not only affects creators but also places indirect pressure on peers who cannot meet such standards,” she added.
Another concern was the flood of sexual content easily accessible to children. Tebellokayah Mashele, founder of Izibulo Gallagher, warned of its corrosive effect. “It has affected some to such an extent that they see women not as people they work with, but sleep with,” he said.

Also read: Thusong Youth Centre donation drive restores learners’ right to education and dignity

Ndlovu noted that obscene content tends to gain more engagement than positive posts. “When you post Bible verses or motivational things, people do not even share them,” he remarked. Rivers added that in some cases, financially desperate young women are lured into prostitution or turn to online adult platforms to sell explicit content, often without considering long-term consequences.

Beyond individual harm, both Mashele and Ndlovu stressed that excessive screen time erodes family bonds. “Some don’t even have time for family because they are always on their phones laughing alone. The family structure is no longer there,” Ndlovu said. He added that families often miss subtle changes in their children’s lives because conversations at home have been replaced by online communication.

As a preventative measure, speakers urged parents to remain involved, even when children enter higher education. Ndlovu emphasised supervision, while Rivers called for awareness campaigns. “We need to raise awareness. There are NGOs, this is something we have to tell ourselves, that from here we are going out there and include parents, telling them about the impact of social media on the children.”

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!