Teenage Pregnancy and the Power of Social Media in the Capricorn District of South Africa: A Post-Humanist Approach

Social media influences community social issues in varied ways, yet their effects on teenage pregnancy remain uncertain. The purpose of this study is to explore how social media and human experiences are entangled in shaping teenage pregnancy in the Capricorn district of South Africa. Bandura’s social learning theory was used to determine the interplay between observation, imitation, social media modelling, peers, and society’ influences on teenage pregnancy. This study used a qualitative approach, engaging 34 Non-Governmental Organisations through purposive and convenience sampling and small focus groups to achieve saturation, examining how digital technologies and human experiences influence teenage pregnancy in Africa. Data analysis followed the Naeem, Ozuem, Howell, and Ranfagni thematic analysis six-step process. Two themes emerged: pervasive influences and positive influences of social media. Five sub-themes emerged supporting the pervasive and positive influences, that is, normalisation of risky sexual behaviours and experimentation; peer pressure influences and cyberbullying; promotion of gender-based violence and vulnerability; provision of adequate sexual education; and the consequences and promotion of supporting networks. Social media both supports and harms adolescents, influencing teenage pregnancy through its educational value and risky behavioural modelling. Positive role models can reduce vulnerability, while insights from this study guide policymakers, communities, and researchers in addressing social media’s complex effects on teenage pregnancy.