Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) Position Paper on Digital Culture and Child and Youth Well-Being
Statement
June 30, 2026
The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health (CCMOH) released a position paper highlighting the impacts that digital culture can have on the health and well-being of children and youth.
Digital devices and online platforms, including social media, play an important role in helping people connect and find community. However, there is growing evidence that excessive or problematic use of these tools is associated with negative effects on children’s development, sleep, and mental and physical health.
As the challenges of digital technologies are complex and rapidly evolving, addressing their impacts on health and well-being requires a comprehensive, coordinated, and adaptable approach. The CCMOH advocates for shared responsibility and coordinated action across industry, health systems, schools, communities, and families to reduce harm and promote healthy habits for children and youth. At the core of their recommendations is a focus on increasing awareness of health impacts, strengthening protections against online harms through policy and other measures, and fostering safe and supportive environments both online and offline.
Read the full position paper: Digital Culture and Child and Youth Well-Being: A Position Paper from the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health
The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health includes the Chief Medical Officer of Health from each provincial and territorial jurisdiction, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, the Chief Medical Advisor of Health Canada, the Chief Medical Officer of Public Health of Indigenous Services Canada, the Chief Medical Officer from the First Nations Health Authority, and ex-officio members from other federal government departments. Learn more about federal, provincial and territorial collaboration on public health in Canada by visiting the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network website.
Associated links
- Government of Canada introduces legislation to make social media services and AI chatbots safer for children
- The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Canada
- Youth health
- Leaders’ call on a safer digital space for minors