Trapped in the feed: Eswatini’s Youth Struggle to Log Off

 By Khanyisile Makhanya

In Eswatini, many young people are glued to their phones day and night. Social media has gone beyond fun and turned into a serious problem, affecting how they sleep, study, and feel. Sadly, this is often ignored by adults who don’t see the full damage.

In her quiet bedroom in Mbabane, 19-year-old Luyanda Makhanya lies awake, scrolling on her phone. “I always say I’ll stop after ten minutes, but I end up staying on TikTok for hours. I can’t stop myself,” she says with a tired voice. Luyanda’s experience is common among young people countrywide, what began as harmless entertainment has become a serious issue nowadays. Social media addiction is growing quietly and it is hurting the learning and emotions of many teenagers.

                              Luyanda trapped in a moment of joy

Young people across Eswatini are spending a lot of time on social media every day. In a study done in 2024 by the Eswatini Digital Youth Initiative, it was found that almost 8 of 10 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 use social media for more than five hours (5) each day. This is a big concern as five hours is a lot of time which should be used on studies other than spent on social media.

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp are part of everyday life. Students check on their phones the moment they wake up and the last thing before they sleep, even when they try to stop, they feel like they are missing out. In schools, teachers are seeing the negative effects of too much usage of social media. “Students are present in class, but their minds are far away, they’re not listening, not talking, and their marks are getting worse.” Says Ms Sebe Zwane, a guidance teacher from Manzini Nazarene Practising School.

In addition, University students also feel trapped in social media, “Sometimes I skip lectures just to lie in bed and scroll, even when I have assignments, I keep watching videos. Later I feel guilty, but I can’t stop,” says Sibusiso, 22, from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Mbabane. Experts says that social media apps are made in a way that makes people want to keep using them. They are built to keep one’s eyes on the screen for as long as possible. Each time one get a notification, the brain feels happy for a moment. This feeling can become something the mind wants again and again.

Dr Sizwe Mhlungu, a psychologist who works in Ezulwini, explains this clearly. She says, “Using too much social media is like eating too many sweets. It feels nice at first, but if you don’t stop, it starts to hurt your health. It makes it harder to concentrate, and stay calm especially for teenagers who are still growing.” For many young people, social media has become a way to run away from stress. Some are having problems at school, others are struggling with issues at home or with friends. Instead of talking to someone or resting, they turn to their phones to feel better. “When I’m feeling sad or angry, I just go online to watch funny videos, it helps me forget my problems, but only for a short time,” says Luyanda.

In most cases, looking at other people’s perfect photos and videos online can also make teenagers feel bad about themselves. They see people wearing expensive clothes, living in big houses, and they start comparing with themselves. “I see girls with pretty outfits and then I look in the mirror and feel ugly, even when I was happy, I then feel like I’m not good enough.” says Charity Khumalo a 22- year- old student from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

Behind the smile is a story of strength. Charity Khumalo faced the tough side of social media and kept going. (cred: Mcebo)

Some young people also feel pressure to post things that will get attention. If their posts don’t get many likes or comments, they start to feel like no one cares. “I feel like I have to act a certain way just to be noticed, it’s tiring to always try to impress people online’ says Luyanda Makhanya.

The even worse part in social media is that there are others who are being bullied online, Cyberbullying is growing. People make fun of how others look or live. “Someone posted a mean comment about my photo, I didn’t want to go to school the next day. I felt embarrassed,” Says Charity. These kinds of problems happen behind screens, where adults cannot see them. In response, some schools are starting to take action. The Manzini Nazarene Practising School made a new rule that bans phones during class time. Students are now encouraged to play sports, take part in drama and music groups. “At first, they didn’t like the change, but after a few weeks, they were enjoying it.” Says Ms Sebe Zwane.

MS Zwane from Manzini Nazarene-speaking out on the silent crisis: students losing focus because of social media. (Cred: Londiwe)

To fix this, some young people are also taking steps to help themselves. Sibusiso, the university student who used to skip lectures has started using an app that blocks social media after two hours. “At first, I felt bored, now I sleep better and I have enough time to concentrate on my studies. I’m slowly getting my life back,” says Sibusiso. This kind of recovery is possible, when young people start making better choices with their time, their brains begin to heal and they become responsible to their studies. Moreover, Schools must offer support and teach students how to use digital tools in a healthy way.

Above everything, the youth should know that the social media is here to stay and should not be allowed to be a barrier to their bright future.