MHM Magazine

22 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 2022 | Issue 6 MHM Introduction Life without the internet is unimaginable. People use the internet for various activities, including social networking (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), streaming movie/television content (Netflix, Showmax), watching pornography, playing games, shopping, and gambling. There are numerous advantages associated with its use, such as enhanced interconnectedness, communication, and improved learning. In this way, the internet has the potential to improve life satisfaction and productivity. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, internet use has become essential for many people - for work purposes but also to stay connected with friends and family. It was recently estimated that there are currently more than five billion internet users worldwide, i.e., 63 percent of the global population. The situation in South Africa is similar, with two thirds of the population (approximately 41 million people) using the internet. Considering the unprecedented circumstances caused by COVID-19 / lockdown, the percentage of internet users has rapidly increased in the last couple of years. While many individuals use Professor Christine Lochner & Gizela van den Berg, SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University PROBLEMATIC USAGE OF THE INTERNET, YOUTH AND FAMILY DYNAMICS