Worcester Standard School Vibes Issue #5 – 27 February 2026

It is your 24/7 companion within arm’s reach, your brain’s external hard drive.

For many teens the news that an increasing number of countries are considering banning children younger than 16 from using social media is unse ling. So many hours of their lives are spent on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or other platforms. But may those hours be too many?

In December last year Australia became the first country to ban social media for those under 16. Access is restricted to several platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick. They do have access to WhatsApp and YouTube Kids. Several other countries are considering similar measures.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appropriately called social media the digital "Wild West", as there are few rules and control. He believes measures should be put in place to keep children safe.

Other countries that have started the process or are considering such a ban include Denmark, France, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Malaysia and the UK.

The European Parliament stated lawmakers were calling for a harmonised EU digital minimum age of 16 for accessing social media, video-sharing platforms and AI companions, while allowing 13- to 16-year-olds access with

According to Mayoclinic unhealthy social media looks like this:

◊It distracts from homework, exercise and family activities.

◊It disrupts sleep.

◊May lead to information that is biased or incorrect.

◊It becomes a means to spread rumours or share too much personal information.

◊It leads some teens to form views about other people’s lives or bodies that aren’t realistic.

◊It exposes some teens to online predators, who might try to exploit or extort them.

◊Expose some teens to cyberbullying, which can raise the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

parental consent. Are these measures really necessary? These devices have become such an integral part of post-modern life.

Several studies have found that some content on risk taking, and negative posts or interactions on social media as well as spending lots of time on social media are linked with self-harm, low self-esteem, poor mental health and well-being in teens.

But social media are not all bad news for teenagers. There are many upsides too.

Some social-media platforms offer teens the opportunity to express themselves and connect with other teens locally or over long distances. They offer learning opportunities in subjects that interest young minds. In support groups youngsters learn how others in their shoes cope with difficult situations. In moderated chat forums they may be encour-

aged to talk about issues they’d otherwise be hesitant to ask questions about, such as their mental health or other health issues.

NovaNews, Standard Breerivier Gaze e’s online platform, recently ran a poll across all its publications' social media asking if South Africa should follow Australia's lead and ban social media for children under 16.

The overwhelming response from people across the country was that yes, measures need to be put in place to keep the youth safe. Many said youngsters should not have phones as they expose them to things they are just too young to deal with.

Big tech companies such as Meta Platforms, owner of Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook as well as Google’s YouTube, are currently defending themselves in a lawsuit in the US that claims it targeted young users, knowing the platforms were addictive.

NovaNews followers answered!

Should SA follow the Aussies’ lead and ban social media for u-16’s?

“YES!”

“Measures need to be put in place to keep the youth safe.”

“Phones expose them to things they are just too young to deal with.”

Social media: yes or no for teens?

In the face of this worldwide backlash against social media, what should South African teens do? With thorough studies proving that there is a serious downside to spending too much time on social media, especially in negative online communities, it would be a wise young person that takes ownership of his or her use of these platforms.

Ask the hard questions. How much time do I really spend on my phone? Is it keeping me away from other important interactions or activities?

Are the online communities I am part of healthy for me or do they drag me down? Am I using it as a place to hide and should I rather speak to a real person about my problems?

Hardoplees skep ryke verbeelding

Lianda Coetzer

Wêreldhardopleesdag word elke jaar op die eerste Woensdag van Februarie gevier en vanjaar het dié geleentheid op 4 Februarie plaasgevind.

Voordat jy dink dat dit net nóg ʼn kalenderdag sonder enige merkwaardige invloed is – dink weer.

Hardoplees is ongetwyfeld ’n waardevolle bousteen vir enige jongeling se toekoms.

Namate gemeenskappe hulself steen vir steen op- en uitbou, vervul waardes, kennis en ʼn liefde vir leer ʼn onmisbare vormingsrol. Een van die eenvoudigste maniere om hierdie grondslag te versterk, is deur hardop te lees. Stories – geskiedkundig, hedendaags en selfs toekomsgerig – vervul soveel méér as net ʼn vermaaklikheidsdoel.

Die aanhoor van sulke stories verskerp taalvaardighede, skep ryke verbeeldingsvlugte, kweek kritiese denke en inspireer. Dink ʼn bietjie hieroor: wanneer jy vir ʼn kind hardop voorlees, skep jy ʼn gedeelde oomblik wat die potensiaal het om hierdie vorming doelgerig te bewerkstellig. Jy stel die kind bloot aan die ritme en melodie van sy of haar moedertaal. Hardopleesdag vervul nóg ʼn belangrike rol in die sin dat dit gemeenskappe byeenbring en só verbondenheid bevorder. Ouers, onderwysers, biblioteekpersoneel en kinders word (veral op dié dag) lede van dinamiese lees- en leergemeenskappe. Elke lees oomblik – hoe gering dit ook al lyk – is ʼn belegging in ʼn kind se toekoms. As opvoedkundige en vormingsboublokke dra hardop- en saamlees uiteindelik by om veerkragtige, ingeligte en leergierige volwassenes te ontwikkel.

Hardoplees hoef egter nie (en mag nie) net tot een dag per jaar beperk wees nie. Dit kan ʼn daaglikse, natuurlike deel van die gesins- en skoolroetine word.

Selfs vyf tot tien minute per dag kan ʼn merkbare verskil maak. Die geheim lê nie in hoe lank gelees word nie, maar in hoe gereeld en met hoeveel entoesiasme.

Hiermee ʼn paar praktiese maniere om op ʼn bewustelike manier vir hardoplees tyd in te ruim:

So bou ons nie net saam aan ʼn kultuur van geletterdheid nie, maar gee ons ʼn nalatenskap van kennis wat oor geslagte ʼn invloed sal hê.

In ʼn wêreld wat al vinniger en meer digitaal raak, bly die eenvoudige handeling van iemand wat vir ʼn ander hardop lees, een van die kragtigste maniere om menslike verbintenis, begrip en leer te bevorder.

Elke storie wat gelees word, elke stem wat lees en elke kind wat luister, word boustene in die groot ontwikkelings­

taak vir ʼn hoopvolle toekoms.

§Ontwikkel ‘n vaste leesroetine

ʼn Kort storie voor slaaptyd, ʼn paar bladsye ná aandete of selfs ʼn vinnige leesoomblik voor skool help nie net om ʼn roetine te vestig nie, maar ook om verwagting te skep. Op hierdie manier voel lees minder soos ʼn taak, en meer soos ʼn natuurlike deel van elke dag

§Laat jou kind besluit oor wat gelees word Wanneer kinders self boeke mag kies, ongeag die genre, help dit hulle om lees as iets persoonlik en genotvol te ervaar. Belangstelling is dikwels ʼn sterk dryfveer om lees aan te wakker.

§Maak die leeservaring pret

As jy vir jou kind hardop lees, gebruik verskillende stemme vir verskillende karakters, verander jou toon om spanning of humor te illustreer, en moenie bang wees vir ʼn bietjie drama nie. Hardoplees fokus nie net op woorde nie, maar ook op die kind se belewenis van ʼn storie.

§Gesels oor die storie

Vra eenvoudige vrae: “Wat dink jy gaan volgende gebeur?” of “Hoe sou jy gevoel het in daardie situasie?” Só ontwikkel kinders kritiese denke en leer hulle om hul eie menings met selfvertroue te vorm.

§Elke geleentheid is ‘n leesgeleentheid

Padtekens, resepte, inkopielyste en instruksiepamflette is ook tekste. Deur alledaagse hardopleesgeleenthede in te span, leer kinders dat lees nie net tot boeke beperk word nie, maar in elke aspek van die lewe voorkom.

§Wees self ‘nleesrolmodel

Wanneer kinders volwassenes sien lees – boeke, tydskrifte of selfs e-boeke – leer hulle dat lees waardevol, ontspannend en ʼn alledaagse aktiwiteit is.

§Lees as‘n gemeenskapsverantwoordelikheid

Skole, universiteite, biblioteke en gemeenskapsorganisasies speel ʼn onmisbare rol om leesgeleenthede toeganklik te maak. Leeskringe, voorleesprojekte, boekruilaksies en studente wat by skole of tehuise vir die inwoners voorlees, is alles manière waarop gemeenskappe saam kan bou aan ʼn sterker leeskultuur.

•Lianda Coetzer is ’n bibliotekaris by Akademia.

Drostdyers bult hul spiere

HTS Drostdy se 520kg-gemengde toutrekspan het op Saterdag, 21 Februarie as Jeugsportspan van die Jaar by die jaarlikse Kaapse Wynland-sporttoekennings in die Paarl weggestap.

Die jaarlikse prysuitdeling vier sportprestasies in die streke Witzenberg, Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Breedevallei

en Langeberg en dien as voorloper vir die Wes-Kaapse provinsiale sporttoekennings op 28 Februarie.

Die skool het ook twee ander nominasies ontvang. Alita Basson is benoem vir Junior Sportvrou van die Jaar, terwyl Morné Visser 'n nominasie vir afrigter van die jaar ontvang het.

HTS Drostdy se 520kg-gemengde toutrekspan is by die onlangse Kaapse Wynland-sporttoekennings aangewys as Jeugspan van die Jaar.

Gym duo a source of pride

Two learners from Worcester Gymnasium were among the winning team that walked away with top honours in their category at the recent Cape Winelands Sports Awards, held on 21 February at Paarl Town Hall.

Nuha Cader and Zenobia Bezuidenhout, formed part of the Goudini u-23 500 kg ladies’ team that took the Team of the Year trophy.

They proudly represented the Goudini team and the South African Proteas that competed in England at the Tug-of-War World Championships.

The school congratulated the dynamic duo on its Facebook page, citing "their selection and success were based on the

strong motivation highlighting their exceptional commitment, discipline and consistent high-level performance throughout the season.

"The team demonstrated remarkable resilience under pressure, outstanding teamwork and the ability to perform on both provincial and international stages, making them true ambassadors for their school, region and country.

"We are extremely proud of this achievement and the example these young women set for our sporting community."

The school also congratulated Stefanie Shepherd, head of Tug-of-War at Worcester Gymnasium, who coaches the team.

Hou bene, hou!

Atlete van die laerskole Robertson, Wynland, Worcester-Oos, Robertson Voorbereiding, Hugenote, Gericke en Bredasdorp het aan die Eddie Nortier Junior-blitsuitdaging deelgeneem. Dit is Donderdag 12 Februarie by die Laerskool Wynland gehou.

’n Jong tennisspeler van De Doorns se vlugvoetigheid op die tennisbaan het hom ’n plek in die Suid-Afrikaanse Skoletennisspan besorg.

Elnico Je ha, ’n gr. 7-leerder aan die Hoërskool Hexvallei, presteer al van jongs af uitstekend op tennisbane oor die land heen en het die Wes-Kaap Kavaliers al verskeie kere verteenwoordig.

Ethan het gewoeker tydens die interprovinsiale tennistoernooi vir o.13-spelers, wat van 8 tot 11 Januarie in Bloemfontein gehou is. Hy was lid van die Wes-Kaap Kavaliers se A-span en het twaalf van sy dertien wedstryde gewen.

Die SA Skolespan is ná die toernooi aangewys en Elnico is een van die tien seuns en tien meisies wat gekies is. Die span toer van 25 Junie tot 4 Julie na Engeland.

’n Deel van hul toerprogram is om verskeie oefenskole van die Lawn Tennis Association te besoek. ’n Reeks internasionale wedstryde wag ook op hom. Dié uitstappie sluit natuurlik ook ’n besoek aan elke tennisspeler se droom in: Wimbledon. Dit is ’n wêreldbekende Grand Slam-toernooi op gras waar die beste internasionale tennissterre om die vroueen mans-enkel-, dubbelspel- en gemengde trofees meeding.

Elnico is nie net toegewyd en gedissiplineerd in sy sport nie, maar ook in sy akademie, wat gewis ’n goeie kombinasie vir ’n blink toekoms is.

Elnico samel tans geld in om die droomtoer te kan meemaak.

Diegene wat hom wil ondersteun, kan die Hoërskool Hexvallei se Facebook-blad vir nog inligting besoek.

Voices unite in choir festival

Those who love choir music will be excited to hear that the Cape Winelands Music Festival takes place on 22 March in Worcester.

This collaborative effort is hosted by the Western Cape Choral Arts Association and the Zolani Youth Choir in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. The music festival hopes to revive choral music in the Cape Winelands region.

The choirs that will perform during

the festival are the well-known Zolani Youth Choir, the Bosman Adama Choir, Bomibethu Youth Choir, Hoër Tegniese Skool Drostdy's school choir, Luxolo Arts Development, Stellenbosch Connected Melodies, Ubuhle Bakhe Artist Development, Worcester Primary School Choir, Worcester Choristers, Oakdene Choir and more.

The festival starts at 15:00 at Hoër Tegniese Skool Drostdy. For more information phone 081 555 3789.

Ethan Willemse, a learner at Somerset High in Worcester, represented his school at the North Boland athletics event that took place in Bonnievale on Saturday 14 February, where he delivered excellent results. He came first in the 200 m for boys u-15 in a time of 22,89 seconds. He also achieved second place 400 m and third place in the 100 m. Ethan also took part in the Boland Athletics in Paarl on Saturday 21 February.

Langerug laat die kleure spat

Langerugskool het op 23 Januarie sy kleureatletiekbyeenkoms

as die dag

toppresteerders

Teenage ‘Outdoor

Cinema

Experience’ under the stars

Worcester is set to come alive with the Outdoor Cinema Experience: Teens Edition, a unique movie night created especially for teenagers aged 14 to 18.

This exciting event promises an unforgettable evening of film, music, food and fun in a safe, social outdoor environment.

Hosted by Hello Maaikie Events, the Outdoor Cinema Experience: Teens Edition will take place in Worcester at the Karoo National Botanical Garden on Friday 27 February.

Gates open at 17:00, giving teens time to enjoy the atmosphere, grab snacks from food vendors and take photos before the movie starts just a er 20:00, once the sun has set.

The event aims to give teenagers a fun and affordable entertainment option, encouraging them to connect with friends in a relaxed, supervised se ing. Those at-

Photo: Toqan AI

tending can expect a large outdoor screen, quality sound, themed dècor and a vibrant festival-style vibe.

Sixteen-year-old Brooklyn Cu ings shared her excitement about the event: “There isn’t always a lot for teens to do in Worcester, so something like this is really exciting. Watching a movie outside with all your friends just sounds different and fun. I can’t wait!”

Parents can rest assured safety and organisation are a top priority, with event staff on site to ensure a well-managed and secure experience for all guests.

Tickets and discount codes are available through participating schools.

For more information, enquiries and group bookings contact Hello Maaikie Events on WhatsApp at 084 010 0590 or follow their social media platforms for updates.

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