English
A series of landmark papers published in the medical journal The Lancet concludes that screen time limits and individual willpower are not enough to protect children from the harms of social media. Experts from Canada and around the world argue that governments and major technology companies must take direct responsibility for the digital health risks facing young people today.
A Public Health Crisis in the Making
Jay Shaw, Canada Research Chair in Responsible Health Innovation at the University of Toronto, co-authored the series. He says society has been too quick to frame digital health as a matter of personal choice. “It’s easy to think about how technology impacts our health as being about our individual choices,” Shaw said. “That’s not the right way to think about it.”
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
The papers describe what researchers call the “digital determinants of health.” These are the built-in features of digital platforms that shape how young people behave online. Shaw argues that parental controls and screen time restrictions cannot overcome these structural forces. Instead, the design choices and business models of large technology companies must change.
Social media platforms generate revenue by keeping users engaged for as long as possible. They collect data on what users like, share and return to, then use that data to deliver targeted advertising. Shaw points to the infinite scroll feature as a clear example. “If the page you’re looking at has no end, it makes it much more difficult to close off that session or that activity,” he said. Targeted algorithms and AI chatbots further reinforce this cycle by recommending personalised content that encourages continued interaction.
Evidence of Harm — and Some Benefits
The Lancet series includes an umbrella review of 2,790 studies. That review links problematic digital media use in young people to depression, anxiety, sleep disruption and reduced physical activity. However, researchers also found evidence of health benefits. Moderate digital media use and active video gaming were associated with improved feelings of well-being.
Shaw says these findings highlight the importance of looking at how young people engage with technology, not just how much time they spend on it. The type of content and the patterns of use both matter when assessing risk and benefit.
Big technology companies have frequently challenged claims of mental health harm by pointing to a lack of direct causal evidence. The authors acknowledge that establishing clear cause and effect is difficult. Nevertheless, they argue that the scale of digital media use and the vulnerability of certain young people justify taking precautionary public health action now.
Calls for Government Regulation
The researchers call on governments to regulate digital platforms and push companies to reform their business models. Australia has already moved in this direction. It now restricts social media access to users aged 16 and over. Dozens of other countries, including Canada, are considering similar measures.
Shaw says Canada’s proposed legislation is on the right track. Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, and Bill C-36, the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, would together create a Digital Safety Commission to oversee technology companies. Both bills would also restrict children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Importantly, the legislation would allow exemptions for companies that demonstrate adequate safeguards for children within their platforms. Shaw sees this as the critical element. “It’s that logic of incentivizing digital media companies to demonstrate safety that is the key, I think, to all of this,” he said. He also noted that a total ban for younger teenagers is not ideal, given the genuine educational and social value of digital platforms. However, he added that he does not see another effective way to push companies toward safer design.
Meanwhile, Instagram currently sets its minimum age at 13. Its parent company, Meta, says users under 16 automatically receive default account settings that allow parents to set screen time limits, monitor messaging contacts and limit exposure to sensitive content such as violence or cosmetic procedure promotion.
Young People Speak Out
The Lancet series also drew on the lived experiences of six young adults aged 23 to 30, who formed a youth advisory group for the research. Yifan Zhou, a 30-year-old Canadian member of the group, said she recognises both sides of the digital media debate.
Zhou said social media helps people stay connected across long distances and provides easier access to educational content. At the same time, she has spoken with peers about loneliness caused by reduced face-to-face interaction and anxiety triggered by constant comparison with others online.
Zhou also shared a personal experience. A family member was exposed to online predators during their teenage years. The situation continued for years before anyone found out. “They also felt that it wasn’t something that they wanted to discuss. They felt ashamed,” Zhou said. She added that the necessary regulations and education were simply not in place at the time.
Dr. Michael Cheng, a psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the CHEO Research Institute, said he regularly sees the addictive qualities and mental health consequences of social media in his clinical work. He recalled that years ago, children admitted to hospital would ask when their parents could visit. Now, he said, the first question is often whether they can keep their phone.
Cheng, who was not involved in the Lancet research, welcomed the growing global consensus. “I remember 10, 15 years ago, those that were concerned, it felt like we were yelling and crying into the wind,” he said. He expressed hope that better-designed technology could eventually shift the balance toward safety.
Zhou shared that optimism. She noted that digital technology has developed far faster than government policy. Even so, she believes meaningful change is within reach. “The release of this paper is something that gives me hope,” she said. “I see that young people are more and more taking agency in terms of co-creating our own futures.”
