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South Africa has the highest screen time in the world. But while we're all scrolling, what are we actually losing?
In this episode, Dr Claudia Gray and Christy Herselman explore a concept that changes how we think about our devices: opportunity cost. For every hour spent on a screen, something else is being sacrificed—and the price our children are paying might be higher than we realise.
They revisit a conversation that sparked their friendship: a doctor's observation that children now walk into consultations with phones in hand, numbing every uncomfortable moment before it even arrives. What happens when we constantly rescue our children from boredom, anxiety, and frustration? Claudia and Christy argue that we're not just stealing their boredom—we're stealing their creativity, their resilience, and their ability to sit with real emotions.
From the sleep disruption caused by blue light to the family connections traded for endless scrolling, they unpack the true cost of our screen habits. Christy shares the sobering statistics—the average teenager spends six to nine hours a day on screens but only 45 minutes with family—while Claudia explains the neuroscience behind why screen time isn't rest, why melatonin matters, and how a lack of sleep can make a teenager behave like a child.
Together, they offer a way forward: rethinking our defaults, setting boundaries, and most importantly, leading by example. Because the screen culture we want for our children starts with the relationship we have with our own devices.
If you've ever felt uneasy about how much time your family spends on screens but aren't sure what to do about it, this episode will give you the clarity and permission to start small.
Dr Claudia Gray:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dr_claudia_gray/
Dr Claudia Gray’s Real Parenting and Paediatrics, Quivertree Publications 2025
https://www.takealot.com/dr-gray-s-real-parenting-paediatrics/PLID98849917
Christy Herselman:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thechatdurban/
Books:
https://thechat.co.za/product-category/books/
