The 2026 Global Digital Overview Report recently ranked South Africans among the world’s highest users of online media, with almost 53 hours a week, compared with the global average of 33 hours and 27 minutes.

Occupational therapist Rebecca Hurst and Claudia van Blerk, occupational therapist and manager of the Centre of Psychotherapy Excellence (COPE) at Netcare Akeso, take a deeper look at what’s driving the nation’s online obsession and when it may become unhealthy.

“It’s incredibly difficult these days to fully switch off from the digital world. Most people have their phones with them all the time, checking messages or social media throughout the day, and into the night,” says Hurst.

Constant pressure

“There appears to be constant pressure, both professional and social, to stay available and respond as quickly as possible, which further feeds into being always plugged in.

“There is a constant underlying sense of needing to be connected which makes it harder to truly rest and switch off.”

This often creates pressure to respond straight away, even if it means replying after hours.

“This can contribute to burnout, particularly when there is no clear separation between work and personal life.

“Sleep can also be affected, both by late-night screen time and by the mental habit of staying alert for notifications, which can make it harder to wind down for sleep,” says Van Blerk.

“When connection is no longer a choice, but something that feels compulsory or anxiety-driven, it can become a problem.”

Creativity and effectiveness

Van Blerk adds that constant connectivity can reduce both creativity and effectiveness.

“Creativity often requires uninterrupted time, mental space, and even moments of boredom. When attention is constantly divided, it becomes harder to engage in deep thinking or generate new ideas,” she says.

“Similarly, effectiveness decreases when tasks are repeatedly interrupted, as it takes time to regain focus and momentum. It is also all too easy to ‘just ask AI’ instead of taking the time to figure something out or learn about it independently with curiosity.”

A healthy relationship with technology involves using it intentionally rather than habitually.

“It should not be considered a luxury to unplug from our devices, but a necessary practice for maintaining creativity, mental health and sustainable, effective functioning,” Hurst concludes.