Associations Between Social Media Use, Personal Screen Time, and Mental Health Indicators Among Canadian Youth

ABOUT THE REPORT

The information for this report was collected January 2024 -February 2025, from Polls 19-23 of our Canada-wide surveys. The data represents 27,039 respondents aged 16 and older who answered questions about their mental health in a blind online survey.

This report is a focused analysis of how social media use, personal screen time, and cybervictimization relate to youth mental health outcomes in Canada.

Drawing from over 27,000 responses to MHRC’s national population polling initiative), this report highlights how extended screen use and negative online experiences are associated with poorer mental health among youth aged 16–24, including higher rates of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation.

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.