A majority of young Canadians view the internet as a happy, informative, and entertaining part of their lives, according to a Department of Public Safety report — contradicting Attorney General Arif Virani’s warnings of “unchecked dangers and horrific content” used to justify new speech restrictions.
Blacklock's Reporter says the report found that most youth reported positive experiences with online activities like social media, messaging, and gaming. When asked about social media specifically, 60% of respondents described their experience as “totally or mostly positive.”
Concerns about cyberbullying have also declined since 2019, with fewer teenagers and young adults now rating it as a “serious problem.” Among those who did encounter abusive language, most described it as “name-calling and negative comments about physical appearance” rather than criminal threats.
Education on cyberbullying largely came from schools (69%), parents (42%), and news stories (39%), with 25% of respondents reporting personal experiences with it. The report noted that racialized youth were among the most likely to have learned about cyberbullying through media coverage.
The findings, based on surveys of 1,405 teenagers, young adults, and parents, come as screen time reaches record highs, increasing from 5.1 hours per day to 6 hours. One-third of respondents said they use the internet for social interaction at least once an hour, with YouTube and Instagram remaining the most popular platforms. Usage of TikTok, Facebook, and Twitch has also grown.
The positive assessment of internet use stands in contrast to the push for online speech restrictions under Bill C-63, which sought to regulate content deemed “likely to foment detestation or vilification.” The bill, introduced last February, was framed by Virani as necessary to combat harmful content. However, it failed to pass Second Reading and was abandoned when Parliament was prorogued on January 6.