We live in an age where a single photo, post, or comment can outlive us. The digital world never forgets, and in South Africa, that permanence has real-world consequences. From WhatsApp groups to social media posts, the way we behave online can affect our careers, reputations, and even our children’s safety.
Digital mindfulness isn’t about switching off; it’s about switching on with intention. It’s about recognising that our online footprints are as real as our physical ones, and that every share, like, and comment contributes to our digital legacy.
As The Digital Law Company, led by media law expert Emma Sadleir, reminds us: if you wouldn’t put it on a billboard beside your face, your name, and your employer’s logo, don’t put it online.
1. Think before you post
That “billboard test” should stop any hasty post in its tracks. A quick rant about a colleague or client? A photo of someone else’s child? In South Africa, both could land you in hot water. The same confidentiality clauses that apply to your employment contract also apply to your social media. Posting company details, client names, or even internal frustrations online could breach professional or legal obligations.
Digital mindfulness means pausing before you hit publish and asking: Does this post respect privacy, dignity, and consent?
2. Your online identity never clocks out
In the digital era, you represent your company, school, or club 24 hours a day. A post made at midnight, even from your personal account, can reflect on your professional life. The internet doesn’t differentiate between “personal” and “professional”; it just remembers.
That’s why The Digital Law Company refers to the “tattoo effect” of online content: once something is posted, it’s almost impossible to remove completely. Before you post, ask yourself if you’re comfortable wearing that statement on your digital skin forever.
3. Practise good digital hygiene
Mindfulness isn’t only about what we post, but how we protect ourselves. Turning on two-factor authentication, securing passwords, and deleting old content from chat groups can prevent information leaks or impersonation.
Even platforms that feel private, like WhatsApp, deserve care. The Digital Law Company has created Work WhatsApp Group Guidelines that remind employees to use these spaces for relevant communication, respect colleagues’ time, and avoid after-hours messages unless urgent. Just because it’s a message and not a memo doesn’t make it less official.
4. Parents, model what you post
For parents, digital mindfulness starts at home. According to The Digital Law Company, parents should think carefully before sharing images of their children, no naked, embarrassing, or shaming content. Once shared, a photo can be copied, edited, or used out of context.
Ask your child if they’re comfortable with the post, and remember that once they’re online, those images can follow them for years — affecting future schooling, friendships, and even career opportunities.
Parental involvement remains the best defence against online harm. Emma Sadleir’s team advises open, ongoing conversations about social media, privacy, and consent. Families can even draw up a Smartphone Contract, which is a simple, clear agreement setting expectations around screen time, safety, and respect.
5. Be your child’s first influencer
Children learn from what they see, not what they’re told. If you’re scrolling at dinner or checking messages mid-conversation, you’re teaching them that constant digital engagement is normal. The Digital Law Company encourages “device-free times and locations” from the dinner table to the bedroom.
Set boundaries that make the digital world part of life, not life itself. Model kindness in your online interactions, and remind children that blocking or reporting someone is not rude — it’s responsible.
And when they stumble across something troubling, teach them to talk. As Sadleir notes, if a child hears a peer express suicidal thoughts, that’s not a secret they should keep. They must tell an adult immediately.
6. The law applies online, too
Many South Africans still underestimate how real-world laws apply in digital spaces. A snide post can qualify as crimen injuria (infringement of dignity), while sharing intimate images without consent can amount to image-based violence. Teenagers as young as 12 can be held criminally liable for online offences, and civil capacity starts from the age of 7.
Digital mindfulness means recognising that online actions have legal weight. Think of your phone as a public stage — because legally, that’s exactly what it is.
7. Fact-check before you share
In an era of misinformation, digital mindfulness also means slowing down before you share. The Digital Law Company’s guide to spotting fake news suggests assuming everything is false until proven true.
Check the source, verify links, and be suspicious of anything that provokes strong emotions like outrage or fear. If major news outlets aren’t covering it, it’s likely unverified. Every reshare adds fuel to misinformation, and you’re responsible for that fire.
Living with digital awareness
Being digitally mindful isn’t about fear; it’s about empowerment. It’s the freedom to use technology responsibly, to protect ourselves and those around us, and to contribute to a healthier digital community.
As Emma Sadleir puts it, “The best line of defence against online harm is active, involved, engaged, aware users.” The internet is a remarkable space, but it’s also permanent, public, and powerful.
Mindfulness won’t make us perfect, but it can make us pause, and in that pause lies the difference between regret and responsibility.
Acknowledgement: This article draws on insights and resources from The Digital Law Company www.thedigitallawco.comand Emma Sadleir, South Africa’s leading authority on social media law and digital safety.
