Limiting the number of hours children and teenagers spend on their phones may not be enough to protect them from the harmful effects of social media, according to a new international series of research papers published in the medical journal The Lancet. Experts from several countries, including Canada, are calling for stronger government regulations and greater responsibility from technology companies to make digital platforms safer for young users. The research, published on Sunday, October 4, highlights how digital technology has become deeply integrated into the daily lives of children and young people. While social media and online platforms offer opportunities for education, entertainment and communication, researchers warn that certain features can encourage excessive engagement and potentially contribute to health problems.
The authors argue that the responsibility for protecting young people should not rest entirely on parents or individual users. Instead, technology companies and governments must take a more active role in addressing the risks associated with digital platforms. According to the experts, simply asking children to spend less time online does not address the underlying design features that encourage them to remain connected for extended periods. Jay Shaw, a Canada Research Chair in responsible health innovation at the University of Toronto and one of the co-authors, said society needs to reconsider how it understands the relationship between technology and health. He argued that the design choices and business models of major technology companies play an important role in shaping users’ online behaviour. One of the major concerns highlighted by researchers is the use of features designed to keep people engaged for as long as possible. Infinite scrolling, automatically playing videos, personalised recommendations and notification systems can make it difficult for users to stop using an application. These features are particularly concerning for children and teenagers, who may find it harder to regulate their online activity. Social media platforms also collect information about users’ interests, viewing habits and interactions. Algorithms use this information to recommend personalised content, encouraging users to continue watching, scrolling and interacting. Experts say this business model, which relies heavily on user engagement and advertising, can sometimes conflict with the health and well-being of younger audiences. The research also examined the possible health consequences of problematic digital media use. An umbrella review covering 2,790 studies identified associations between harmful patterns of digital media use and several concerns, including depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep and reduced physical activity. Researchers also noted that excessive online engagement can interfere with everyday activities, including education, family interactions and face-to-face relationships. However, the experts emphasised that digital technology is not inherently harmful. Moderate use can offer important benefits, including social connection, access to educational resources and opportunities for recreation. Some forms of digital activity, such as active video gaming, have also been associated with positive well-being outcomes. The researchers therefore believe that the quality, purpose and pattern of online engagement are just as important as the total time spent on screens. The report also highlights the experiences of young people who participated in the research through a youth advisory group. Yifan Zhou, a 30-year-old Canadian member of the group, said social media can help people maintain friendships and access useful information, particularly when they live far apart. However, she also described concerns about loneliness, anxiety caused by comparing personal lives with carefully presented online images, and exposure to online predators. The findings come amid growing international debate about whether governments should impose stricter age restrictions on social media. Australia has already introduced a restriction preventing children under 16 from holding accounts on certain major social media platforms. Several other countries, including Canada, are considering stronger measures to protect young users. In Canada, proposed federal legislation includes measures aimed at strengthening online safety and protecting children’s personal information. The proposals discussed in the report would establish greater oversight of technology companies and introduce restrictions for younger users, while allowing platforms to demonstrate that they have adequate safeguards in place. Shaw said the proposed approach could encourage technology companies to make safety a central part of their platform design rather than treating it as an additional feature. He also cautioned that a complete ban on social media for younger teenagers may not be the ideal solution, given the positive roles these platforms can play in education and social interaction. Dr. Michael Cheng, a psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the CHEO Research Institute, said he regularly encounters the effects of problematic social media use among children and teenagers. He noted that young patients increasingly express concern about whether they will be allowed to keep their mobile phones when receiving hospital care, reflecting how closely digital devices have become connected to their everyday lives. The researchers are calling for a coordinated public health response involving governments, technology companies, healthcare professionals, schools, parents and young people themselves. Suggested measures include safer platform designs, stronger protections against harmful content, greater transparency around recommendation algorithms and policies that prioritise children’s well-being over prolonged engagement.
The central message of the research is that protecting children in the digital age requires more than household screen-time rules. Parents can establish healthy boundaries, encourage outdoor activities and promote meaningful face-to-face interactions, but experts say these efforts must be supported by safer technology and stronger public policies. As digital platforms continue to evolve, researchers believe that governments and technology companies must act before harmful online habits become more deeply embedded in the lives of future generations. The challenge, they say, is not to remove technology from children’s lives, but to create a digital environment in which young people can benefit from it without compromising their health, safety and development.