Canadian children deserve
safer online spaces.

“Every day, doctors see how online harms hurt kids and their families — from self-image issues and cyberbullying to self-harm and exposure to sexualized and harmful content. We’ve seen enough.“

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi
CMA President

“I started practicing at CHEO over 20 years ago. Back then, kids hospitalized on a mental health unit wanted to know when they could see their parents. Today, their first question is, ‘When can I get my phone back?’“

Dr. Michael Cheng
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, CHEO

“The most important prescription we offer is often not a medication — it’s prevention. Children’s digital safety deserves the same approach. The consequences of online harm don’t stay online; they show up in our clinics, our schools, and our homes. Protecting children online isn’t about restricting childhood — it’s about preserving it.”

Dr. Vivian Oparah
Physician

“Almost every day as a primary care doctor, I see youth whose mental and physical health is negatively affected by purposely – addictive social media, filtered images of ‘real peers,’ and disingenuous influencers who create for-profit content where attention and dissatisfaction are currency. ”

Dr. Eric Cadesky
Physician

“As a pediatric emergency physician, I frequently see the results of how targeted harmful content on social media preys on the vulnerable minds of young children and teens. The mental health effects can be severe and long-lasting. Growing up is hard enough. We shouldn’t let profit-seeking algorithms make it harder for our children and youth to thrive.”

Dr. Henry Annan
Physician

“As an emergency physician, I see the direct harm that social media use at too young an age can have. We owe it to the next generation to protect them from online harms and commit to making the space safer for all users.“

Dr. Shazma Mithani
Physician