When it comes to online harms, Canada is at a crossroads. When Parliament resumed this fall under Prime Minister Mark Carney, we expected swift action on the Online Harms Bill (Bill C-63) and an opportunity to advance the conversation around how we can protect children’s health and well-being in an increasingly digital world.
Instead, it continues to be unclear whether the Carney government intends to move the bill forward and Canada still lacks a co-ordinated strategy to address the developmental, cognitive and mental health risks of excessive screen use.
Since the 1990s, Canada’s online harms response has developed only incrementally, with few updates. Meanwhile, digital environments have evolved rapidly, reshaping childhood and adolescence. Infants now swipe before they speak. Teens can spend 12 hours a day online. AI-enhanced platforms and opaque algorithms influence how children play, communicate, and learn — often in ways parents and policymakers don’t fully understand.
Excessive screen time in early childhood is linked to developmental delays, especially for language and social interaction. For older children and teens, daily screen use beyond two hours is associated with anxiety, depression, and reduced self-esteem. Longitudinal studies connect social media use with increased impulsivity, aggression, self-harm and eating disorder symptoms.
Brain imaging studies reveal that screen time can affect how young brains grow and function. In young children, heavy use is associated with changes in areas tied to language, vision and higher-order thinking. For teens, frequent social media use can alter how the brain responds to rewards and feedback, activating circuits similar to those involved in addiction. While more research is needed, these findings suggest screen use is shaping brain development — and may affect behaviour and mental health over time.
