Associations Between Social Media Use, Personal Screen Time, and Mental Health Indicators Among Canadian Youth
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Extended screen use and negative online experiences are associated with poorer mental health among youth aged 16–24, while resilience and strong social connections can offer protection.
This report is a focused analysis of how social media use, personal screen time, and cybervictimization relate to youth mental health outcomes in Canada.
Key findings:
Youth report the longest screen time and highest social media use of any age group, and also the most severe mental health symptoms.
Those spending 7+ hours on personal screen time are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Experiences of cybervictimization are linked to a threefold increase in suicidal ideation.
Youth who use platforms like TikTok and Snapchat report higher rates of suicidal ideation than the national average.
Resilience and strong social connections help buffer the mental health impacts of screen time and cyberbullying.
Why does this matter?
Young people’s online lives are part of a wider mental health environment, not an isolated behaviour. The report identifies associations between prolonged personal screen time or cybervictimization and poorer mental health indicators, while also showing that resilience and supportive relationships are associated with protection. That combination points to safer digital environments and stronger social connection, rather than a single explanation for youth distress.
About the report
This research brief analyzes 27,039 responses collected in MHRC’s blind online surveys from January 2024 to February 2025, with a focus on youth aged 16–24. Pollara Strategic Insights conducted the online survey fieldwork that informed these findings on our behalf.
