Experts from Canada and around the world have warned that the pervasive use of digital technology by children and teenagers constitutes a pressing public health problem that demands swift action. A new series of papers published in The Lancet argues that the burden of protecting young people from harmful social media and other online platforms should no longer rest on parents or individual willpower, but must be assumed by large technology firms and governments.
A Public Health Crisis in the Digital Age
The Lancet collection, released on Sunday, frames the issue as a “digital determinant of health” that shapes young people’s everyday environments. Jay Shaw, the Canada Research Chair in responsible health innovation at the University of Toronto, stressed that viewing technology’s impact as merely a matter of personal choice is misguided. “It’s easy to think about how technology impacts our health as being about our individual choices. And one of the things that we really want to get across in this series is that that’s not the right way to think about it,” Shaw said.
Shifting Responsibility to Tech and Government
According to the authors, efforts such as parental screen‑time limits or youths’ own willpower are insufficient to counteract the design choices that keep users glued to their screens. Shaw highlighted the role of business models that profit from prolonged engagement: “We need to think about the design choices and business models of big technology companies that have built these platforms that are designed for engagement and (to) keep us on (them). That’s partly what drives the health‑related consequences of the digitization of our lives.” He pointed to features like endless scrolling and targeted algorithms that continuously serve tailored content, making it difficult for young people to disengage even when the experience feels unpleasant.
Evidence of Harm and Potential Benefit
An umbrella review of 2,790 studies cited in the series documented a range of harms linked to problematic digital media use, including depression, anxiety, sleep disruption and reduced physical activity. The same review also identified some positives, notably a sense of well‑being associated with moderate use and active video gaming. Shaw noted that this duality underscores the importance of examining “the patterns of our engagement with the technology and the kind of content that we’re looking at” when weighing benefits against risks.
Policy Responses and Youth Voices
The papers call for precautionary public health measures, including government regulation and reforms to digital platforms’ business models that prioritise young people’s wellbeing. Shaw pointed to Australia’s existing rule that limits social media access to those aged 16 and over, noting that Canada is considering similar steps. He highlighted two Canadian bills — Bill C‑34, the Safe Social Media Act, and Bill C‑36, the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act — which would establish a Digital Safety Commission and restrict social media use for under‑16s, while offering exemptions for companies that demonstrate adequate safeguards. “It’s that logic of incentivizing digital media companies to demonstrate safety that is the key, I think, to all of this,” Shaw added.
Yifan Zhou, a 30‑year‑old Canadian member of the youth advisory group that informed the Lancet series, acknowledged the positive aspects of social media, such as staying connected with friends and accessing educational material. Yet she also described the darker side: loneliness from reduced face‑to‑face contact, anxiety driven by constant comparison, and a family member’s experience with online predators that went undisclosed for years because of shame and a lack of awareness. Zhou expressed hope that the paper’s release signals a shift, saying, “The release of this paper is something that gives me hope, and I am also quite active in the youth scene and I see that young people are more and more taking agency in terms of co‑creating our own futures.”
Dr Michael Cheng, a psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, observed a noticeable change in the concerns of young patients over the past decade. Where admissions once prompted questions about parental visiting hours, the first inquiry now often concerns whether they can keep their cellphone. Cheng, who was not involved in the Lancet series, said the growing global consensus offers hope that the pendulum may swing back toward safer technology design.
Why it Matters
Recognising digital overuse as a public health issue shifts the focus from blaming individuals to holding powerful tech firms and policymakers accountable. If governments adopt the recommended regulations — such as age‑based access limits, mandatory safety standards, and independent oversight — young people could gain healthier online environments that reduce mental‑health risks while preserving the benefits of connection and learning. The stakes are high: without decisive action, the pervasive design tactics of social platforms will continue to shape the wellbeing of an entire generation.
