Patience Makwele
Psychologists say they are seeing more children struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, poor sleep and difficulty concentrating – problems they link to excessive social media use.
Several mental health experts told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday that the growing number of children spending hours on social media platforms is beginning to show clear psychological and developmental effects.
Clinical psychologist Anastasia France said children under the age of 15 are particularly vulnerable because their brains are still developing.
“At that stage of development, children are still forming their sense of identity and self-worth,” France said. “When they are constantly exposed to carefully curated images, social comparisons, online criticism, or cyberbullying, it can deeply affect how they view themselves and their place in the world,” said France.
Many platforms and gaming apps, according to France, aim to maintain user engagement by triggering the brain’s reward system through notifications, likes, and comments.
“The brain releases dopamine when a person receives positive feedback online, such as likes or comments. For children, whose self-regulation skills are not yet fully developed, this can create patterns that resemble addictive behaviour,” she said.
She said many children struggle to disconnect from their phones and often spend hours scrolling through content late into the night.
“Social media creates a space where bullying can occur anonymously and publicly. For a child, having negative comments or ridicule visible to peers can be extremely damaging,” France noted.
She also explained that sleep disruption is one of the most common problems linked to social media use among children.
“When children are not getting enough rest, it affects every aspect of their development. Sleep is essential for brain development, learning and emotional stability.”
France encouraged families to prioritise offline activities such as sports, outdoor play, reading and spending time with friends.
“Childhood should not be dominated by screens,” France said. “Real-world experiences are critical for healthy development.”
In September last year, Minister of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao said 112 Namibians, including four children, died by suicide between April and August.
Educational psychologist Pauline dos Santos said parents often seek help when children begin showing sudden mood changes, declining school performance or social withdrawal.
“In some cases, parents report that their child becomes extremely distressed when their phone is taken away. That emotional dependency is something we are seeing more frequently.”
Dos Santos said younger users are highly influenced by the images and lifestyles they see online.
“Many of the images children see online present idealised lifestyles, perfect appearances and carefully edited moments. Children often internalise these images and begin comparing themselves to standards that are simply not realistic.”
She added that these comparisons can lead to feelings of inadequacy, body image concerns and low self-confidence, especially among pre-teens.
According to her, children can also encounter violent or sexually explicit material online even when they are not searching for it.
“Children do not always have the emotional maturity to interpret or process what they see. Exposure to disturbing or confusing content can create anxiety or fear that they struggle to articulate.”
Psychologists also warned that cyberbullying is becoming a growing problem.
“Technology is not inherently harmful. In fact, when used appropriately, it can support learning and creativity,” said Dos Santos.
She said the challenge is ensuring that children use digital platforms in safe and age-appropriate ways.
Meanwhile, some teachers told the Windhoek Observer that they are seeing the effects of social media use in classrooms.
A Windhoek primary school teacher, who asked not to be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media, said some learners arrive at school exhausted after spending late nights on their phones.
“You can see they are tired and distracted. Some of them are constantly checking their phones or talking about what they saw on Tik Tok the night before. It becomes difficult for them to focus on schoolwork,” she said.
She said social media trends and viral challenges sometimes spread into the classroom and affect behaviour.
Both psychologists said parents play a key role in guiding how children use social media.
“Many parents give their children smartphones without establishing clear boundaries. It is important for families to have rules about screen time, the type of platforms children can access and when devices should be put away.”
They also encouraged parents to talk openly with children about their online experiences and help them think critically about what they see online.
