What the debate about social media restrictions can teach us about children’s digital wellbeing

By Dr. Ripudaman Singh Minhas, Developmental Paediatrician, Toronto

I recently met with a family concerned about their 12-year-old child's anxiety and school performance. As often happens in our clinics these days, our conversation quickly turned to social media. Not because social media was the sole cause of the child's struggles, but because it had become woven into many aspects of their daily life: sleep, friendships, self-esteem, family routines, and even how the child understood the world around them.

For many paediatricians, these conversations have become increasingly common.

Children are growing up in digital environments that are fundamentally different from previous generations. The question is no longer whether children should be online. They already are.

Recent federal proposals to restrict social media access for children under 16 have sparked significant public debate.

The experience of other countries suggests that age restrictions alone are unlikely to be sufficient. Young people may circumvent restrictions, and digital content reaches children through multiple pathways. Many younger children encounter social media through older siblings, family devices, gaming platforms, messaging applications, and streaming services long before they create their own accounts.

The public debate about social media legislation is important. Crucially, it begs a broader question: what does healthy childhood development look like in the digital age?

As paediatricians, helping families answer that question may be one of our most important tasks in the years ahead.

We can have a big impact by discussing the importance of parental modelling. The term "technoference" has evolved to describe how digital devices interrupt parent-child interactions. Whether it is checking notifications during meals, scrolling while supervising play, or reaching for a phone during moments of boredom, children observe how adults use technology every day.

Long before children join social media platforms themselves, they are learning digital behaviours from the adults around them.

As paediatricians, we can help families reflect on these patterns without judgment. Conversations about healthy screen use should not focus solely on children's behaviour. They should also include family routines, parental modelling, sleep hygiene, device-free activities, and opportunities for meaningful connection.

The current debate also highlights the growing importance of media literacy. Children are navigating information environments shaped by algorithms, influencers, artificial intelligence, advertising, and misinformation. Learning skills to critically evaluate information, identify trustworthy sources, and understand how digital platforms influence attention and behaviour are essential developmental tasks.

These skills do not emerge naturally. They require intentional teaching and support from families, schools, communities, and health professionals.

Healthy digital habits are ultimately a behaviour-change challenge, which public health has long demonstrated rarely occurs through policy alone. Effective, sustainable approaches to behaviour-change combine education, environmental supports, social norms, and skill-building.

The same principle applies to digital wellbeing. Paediatricians have an important role to play. As the policy debate continues, we can support families in developing healthy screen-use plans, encourage device-free family routines, discuss the impact of technology on sleep and mental health, and promote media literacy as an essential life skill.

The Canadian Paediatric Society's Centre for Healthy Screen Use provides evidence-informed guidance for clinicians, parents, and caregivers. These resources can support conversations about healthy digital habits across developmental stages and help families navigate an increasingly complex digital world.

Further Resources:

• Centre for Healthy Screen Use
• Digital Health Task Force resources

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The information on this blog should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice. The views of blog writers do not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Paediatric Society.