Canada’s proposed social media ban for children under 16 is the latest response to a question many parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers have been grappling with for years.

As a pediatrician with a focus on child and youth mental health, I see firsthand the challenges many young people face. While social media can offer opportunities for connection and learning, it can also contribute to sleep disruption, cyberbullying, social comparison, exposure to harmful content, and increased distress during critical stages of development. Being constantly connected online is stressful and takes away from healthy in-real-life experiences and relationships.

Canada is not alone in searching for solutions. Australia became the first country to implement a national social media ban for children under 16, with platforms subsequently removing or restricting approximately 4.7 million underage accounts. In the United Kingdom, a recent national consultation found that 9 in 10 parents supported a similar ban for children under 16 and legislation has now been tabled there as well.

Whether age-based restrictions are the right solution remains an important discussion. What is clear is that many families, healthcare providers, and governments are increasingly concerned about the impact of digital environments on children and youth. 

A 2025 Canadian study involving more than 27,000 respondents found that youth aged 16–24 report the highest social media use and screen time of any age group, while also reporting the most severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation (Mental Health Research Canada, 2025). While correlation is not causation, this should give us pause.

In communities like ours, where access to specialized mental health services can be limited and families often face additional barriers to care, prevention matters. Safer digital environments, stronger platform accountability, support for parents, digital literacy, and timely access to mental health care must all be part of the solution.

 The presence of technology in our society is ubiquitous. Children deserve to be protected from its harms, just like we do for many other substances and activities we know to be harmful.

Dr. Rob Meeder
Clinical Lead – Family, Child, and Youth Mental Health Program
Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care