South Africa’s digital grip: Is the scroll living your life?
With 29 million people online, South Africa’s social media standards are becoming impossible. Is it time to unplug and reclaim our reality?
As someone who uses social media every single day, I have started to notice the subtle effects it has on my own perspective. South Africa’s social media landscape has become more than just a way to stay in touch; it is now a constant, often exhausting benchmark for how life should be lived.
This pressure is felt by millions across the country, especially considering that in 2026, there are now over 29 million active social media users in South Africa, which is nearly half of our entire population.
Faking the ‘Real’ look on South Africa’s social media
One of the biggest shifts lately is that people are tired of perfect, filtered photos. Now, the trend is to look “authentic” and “raw.” However, even this has become a bit of a performance.
Many “casual” videos are actually carefully staged to look effortless. It creates a strange new standard where even messy, everyday moments feel like they should be aesthetic enough to post.
Since over 90% of South Africans own a mobile phone, the pressure to document “real” life is always right there in our pockets, deeply influencing South Africa’s social media feeds with curated “reality”.
The Pressure to be Better in South Africa’s Social Media Circles
There is a constant push to always be “levelling up”. Whether it is a new seven-day detox, a 5AM routine, or a “home reset”, the message is always that what you are doing isn’t enough.
These trends often make us feel the need to buy more and change more just to keep up. It is an exhausting cycle because as soon as one trend finishes, a new one arrives to make everyone feel behind again. Within South Africa’s social media circles, this constant stream of “perfect” lives can make our own reality feel quite dull in comparison.
Stepping Back from the screen and reclaiming peace
Because of all this noise, more South Africans are trying to reclaim their peace. There is a growing movement of choosing “boring” hobbies over scrolling.
Some are even switching to basic phones on the weekends just to remember what it is like to not be “plugged in”.
It feels like a collective realisation is happening: the best parts of life do not actually have a “share” button.
Taking back control of your digital habits
South Africa’s social media landscape is shifting. As millions scroll daily, the pressure to be “perfect” is rising. Are we losing touch with reality?
Social media is a massive part of our world now, acting as a news source, a mall, and a social club all at once. The trick is to find a way to enjoy the connection without letting the latest trends dictate our sense of self.