From 46 countries surveyed, South Africans sit on the internet the most everyday Photo Pexels
South Africa – In a world where digital connectivity has become an integral part of daily life, a recent study conducted by Atlas VPN, a virtual private network (VPN) service provider, has unveiled some intriguing insights into the digital habits of people worldwide. According to data presented by Atlas VPN, the average time spent browsing the internet in 2022 was 397 minutes (6 hours and 37 minutes) per day. This equates to an astonishing 2 415 hours yearly, or nearly 30% of our time.
The study, which delved into internet usage patterns across 46 countries, among individuals aged between 16 and 64, highlighted South Africa’s insatiable appetite for the virtual world. The nation’s digital habits surpassed even the most digitally advanced countries, leaving researchers and experts astonished by the scale of this phenomenon.
South Africans are the most internet-addicted, with an average of 578 minutes (9 hours and 38 minutes) spent online each day, three hours more than the global average. In contrast, people in Japan spend only 225 minutes (3 hours and 45 minutes), the least out of all surveyed countries. In fact, the last five countries, Austria, South Korea, Germany, Denmark and Japan all spend less than 322 minutes (5 hours and 22 minutes) online every day.
South Africans spending more time on their phones
At the heart of South Africa’s digital dominance lies the widespread availability of affordable internet access. Over the past decade, the country has witnessed a surge in internet penetration, as data prices dropped significantly, making it more accessible to a broader section of the population. This accessibility has not only fueled the rise of smartphone adoption but has also unleashed a wave of opportunities for digital interaction, entertainment, and information consumption.
As the world faced the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic, the significance of the internet in everyday life grew exponentially. With remote work and online education becoming the new norm, people worldwide turned to their screens for work, study, and socialisation. South Africans were no exception to this trend; in fact, their digital affinity seemed to intensify during the pandemic, propelling them to the top spot in global internet usage.
Main reasons for using the internet
One of the primary drivers behind South Africa’s prodigious internet usage is social media. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp have become an integral part of daily life for millions of South Africans. According to Ivan Breytenbach, a social media user, he spends more than three hours on his phone every day.
“I spend more than three hours on my phone every day. When I wake up, I reach for my phone and spend some time scrolling through it. Checking my emails or social media. At least for 15 minutes or so and then my day can begin. I don’t have a set time to use it. As and when it is needed. I spend most of my time on Twitter, which I use for marketing and networking, and WhatsApp, which I use for communication purposes. Mainly work.”
Breytenbach’s screen usage for his social media apps indicate he spends around four hours on it. This, he feels, is “slightly excessive, though not a cause for alarm”.
However, while Breytenbach believes his time is excessive, there are those who spend much more time on their phones. Bilal Abdus Samad spends at least 15 hours on his phone which has led him to admit he is addicted to his phone.
“TikTok, Instagram, Twitter is where I spend most of my time. TikTok takes up the bulk of my time. It’s unfortunate that most of the time, due to boredom, I end up on social media. I end up there to try and cure my boredom. I spend most of my time on these apps during the night as there is not much else to do while I am sitting in bed. It is an addiction, that I know but I don’t think I am actually going to get any help for it. I’ve sort of accepted it. It is unhealthy, that I know and admit.”
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Using the internet for information
Above just using the internet for entertainment purposes, the study found that people primarily use the internet for finding information. Maseeha Kathrada explained that most of the seven hours she spends on her phone goes into informing herself about the world and other various activities.
“The main activities or applications that I use are social apps and online reading of novels. While I do spend most of my time on TikTok, the content on my feed revolves around things I am interested in, which grabs my focus. Most revolve around religious talks and motivational speeches which I find beneficial to me. I do think it’s appropriate for my needs, however I wouldn’t mind cutting down screen time more.”
Atiyya Loonat uses her time on her phone to educate those about chronic illness. Being one who has a chronic illness, she feels that her time online is beneficial to her and those she encounters.
“I spend around five or six hours online. It mostly involves watching Instagram reels and reading threads. Anything that is created to educate people on different chronic illnesses. I spend most of my time online at night. As much as I hate to admit it, my phone is my addiction and escape from reality. I suffer from chronic illness and the online community makes the journey a little bit less lonely. I usually find myself scrolling aimlessly when I am having a dark day or on bad flare days. This is usually when I desperately need a distraction.”
Balancing online activities with life
From the study done, we understand South Africans spend a bulk of their time online. This can often hamper a person’s life. It is important to ensure we balance online activities with real life activities. To do that, Kathrada explained her daily planner helps her get that done.
“I am well-organised and have a daily planner/list of things I need to do on a day-to-day basis. I ensure the list is completed and that allows me to have free time to do anything else which I may want to do.”
For others, like Nashia Carim, keeping track of how much time she spends online and then using the weekend to spend time in nature is a good way to keep things balanced.
“Putting a widget of my screen time on my home screen has helped me monitor and bring down my hours. If it’s constantly in my face when I open my phone, then it’s a constant reminder of how much time it has taken off my day. Sometimes it [phone and social media] can be a distraction, but usually when I really want to do something then I’m able to put it away. I try to do regular hikes because I’m able to go out in nature for a good few hours as a reset, and I notice that I almost never take out my phone unless it’s for a little snap here and there.”
The Atlas VPN study presents a revealing portrait of our digital world and the profound influence it exerts on our lives. South Africa’s extraordinary internet addiction underscores the transformative power of accessible connectivity. As we navigate this digital landscape, striking a harmonious balance between online activities and real-life experiences becomes imperative to foster a wholesome, healthy and enriching existence in the digital age.
