The Lifestyle of Modern South Africans is Going Digital
It’s official, the screen time trend has arrived in South Africa. According to a 2025 report, South Africans spend more than nine and a half hours per day online, far surpassing the global average of six hours of screen time. In other words, the South African lifestyle has gone digital, which isn’t surprising with roughly 60% of the country under the age of 35. From entertainment to their social lives to everyday activities, South Africans are living their lives online more so than the average global citizen. But exactly what does it look like to have the young generation that makes up a majority of South Africans having their lives intertwined with the Internet?
The Social Component
The social lives of younger South Africans are happening online. Data indicates that roughly three-quarters of the population maintains relationships via social media platforms. A nearly identical percentage of people admit to caring about how they’re portrayed online, meaning they take their social media profiles seriously. That’s an indication that South Africans value their social media presence as much, if not more, than they care about how they present themselves in real life.
Naturally, digital platforms are also playing an increasingly big role in the way South Africans pursue love and a social life. Roughly 30% of South Africans are currently using an online dating platform, with nearly half the country admitting to using one at some point. Those numbers are on par with, if not greater than, most Western nations, showing that South Africans are a little ahead of the curve with regard to incorporating online dating into their lifestyle.
Growing Entertainment Options
On a global scale, the entertainment industry has been turned upside down by digital and streaming platforms, as well as the adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices. South Africa is by no means an exception to this, as Internet access is almost universal throughout the country. As a result, more than 60% of South Africans download digital entertainment or stream content like movies and TV shows. The Internet is also a common source for news, making newspapers and magazines obsolete compared to digital sources of news and entertainment.
Among types of digital entertainment, the gaming industry has become one of South Africa’s fastest-growing digital industries. The country has tens of millions of gamers, with a vast majority of the gaming now taking place on mobile platforms rather than PCs or consoles. This is a direct result of easy Internet access and younger South Africans adopting a more digital lifestyle.
Online casinos, in particular, are growing rapidly, as they offer the fun of a trip to a physical casino with the convenience of mobile gaming. This type of gaming is available anywhere and doesn’t require a significant time commitment, making it easy to incorporate into a person’s daily lifestyle. Players also have plenty of options, as there are dozens of South African casino sites reviewed on Casino.com, a site that helps users compare various platforms to find the right one.
Purchasing Power
Daily activities like shopping are also moving into digital spaces, with more than 80% of South Africans doing at least some of their shopping online. Physical retail locations aren’t completely obsolete just yet. However, more than half of South Africans prefer to shop online because they feel it’s more convenient. This makes sense, given how much time South Africans spend online already managing their social lives or seeking entertainment. Even the ritual of window shopping is fading in South Africa, with most people now doing that online, while only a slim majority still visit physical stores to browse for new products.
Naturally, more online shopping also means South Africans are moving toward digital payments. In fact, data shows that more than 80% of the country prefers using credit cards or other digital payments rather than cash. With cash transactions on the decline, in part because fewer purchases are made in person, there are also concerns over financial safety and security.
This is helping to push more South Africans toward crypto and other decentralized financial models. While fewer than 20% of the country uses crypto right now, a vast majority is aware of it, with most believing crypto will play a key role in the country’s financial future. This, as much as anything, is a strong indicator that the push to a more digital lifestyle in South Africa will only continue in the years to come.
