Patience Makwele
Growing social media use among young people in Namibia is raising concerns about its impact on confidence, mental health and online safety, especially among children and teenagers.
The issue was recently discussed on the Wheels of Justice, a Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) TV show, where experts warned about the dangers young people face online, including addiction, harmful content and unrealistic social expectations.
Information and communication technology minister Emma Theofelus said parents, governments and technology companies all have a responsibility to protect children online.
“How old should a child be to be on social media? Children under the ages of 18, 16 and 14, and even children four years old, have access to gadgets, iPads and phones,” she said.
Theofelus said while governments can introduce regulations, parental supervision remains important because children often access devices and internet services through adults.
She also warned that some digital platforms are designed in ways that negatively affect young users.
“We need platforms that avoid addiction, prevent users from feeling inferior, and curb hallucinations of alternative realities,” she said.
According to Theofelus, many young people develop insecurities after constantly comparing themselves to lifestyles and appearances shown online.
Children’s advocate Ingrid Husselmann described social media addiction as both a mental health and children’s rights issue.
“Social media addiction among children is definitely not simply a parenting challenge. It is always, first and foremost, a children’s rights issue. And it’s also an issue regarding mental health and digital safety,” she said.
Husselmann said children remain vulnerable online because they are still developing emotionally and psychologically.
“The law has always recognised that children are vulnerable because of their developmental age. That protection should also extend to the online environment because the reality is that children are essentially growing up online,” she said.
Youth advocate Popiyeni Hannah Daniels said social media pressure is increasingly affecting how young people see themselves and measure success.
“Many young people feel pressured to constantly prove themselves online through expensive lifestyles, appearance or popularity. This often creates anxiety and low self-esteem, especially among teenagers trying to fit in,” she said.
Daniels added that some young people fear expressing their true identities because of online criticism and bullying.
Meanwhile, Windhoek-based psychologist Catherine Tawanda warned that excessive social media use can affect young people’s mental and emotional well-being.
“When young people spend hours comparing themselves to carefully edited images and lifestyles online, they may begin to feel inadequate or isolated. Over time, this can contribute to stress, anxiety and reduced confidence,” she said.
Tawanda encouraged parents and schools to promote healthy digital habits and open discussions around online safety and mental health.
