WINNIPEG – The negative effects social media has on children and youth’s mental and physical health is outweighing other health concerns like substance use and injuries prompting some Manitoba doctors to support a ban on these sites, a new report has found.
Doctors Manitoba, the organization representing roughly 5,000 physicians and students in the province, surveyed its members and found that social media and excessive screen time pose significant risks to the mental health, sleep and robust development in children and youth.
Of the 242 physicians who completed the survey, 90 per cent supported a ban on social media sites and artificial intelligence chatbots for children.
“The findings are quite clear. Doctors believe social media, screen time and chat bots are among the top risks to children’s health and well-being, ranking higher than even smoking, drinking, injuries and sedentary lifestyles,” Dr. Alon Altman, president of Doctors Manitoba, told reporters on Monday.
The organization has heard from family physicians, pediatricians and psychiatrists who have said they treat children living with depression and anxiety, and have seen a change in social interactions because of the online world.
The survey found that more than two thirds of physicians agree the ban should include ages 16 and younger, with some believing the ban should also include age 17.
The issue has been on Doctors Manitoba’s radar but the organization decided to launch a survey after Premier Wab Kinew announced last month a plan to restrict children from using social media and AI chatbots.
Few details have been released on what some critics say would be a massive feat for a province to go at alone.
Kinew has said that tech companies that don’t comply could face billon-dollar fines, sites like YouTube could be included in the ban and the province is looking at having a commissioner or regulator enforce the ban.
Dr. William Li, a pediatrician and representative with Doctors Manitoba, is in support of the province’s proposed plan.
He pointed to recommendations from the Canadian Pediatric Society that suggests children five and above have no more than two hours of screen time per day.
Li encourages parents he speaks with to speak with to develop a “family media plan.”
“A lot of what parents can do, too, is mirror healthy screen time and technology used for their kids as well.”
Doctors Manitoba’s survey found 7.5 per cent are opposed to a ban, while two per cent are unsure.
The report said some of the common reasons for respondents who are opposed are skepticism about Manitoba’s ability to force international tech developers’ hands, a ban alone will not prepare youth for eventual access and concerns of ethical and legal implications of a ban.
Some physicians also pointed out that social networks, with risks removed, can offer benefits as youth get older, such as reducing isolation and fostering peer connections, it added.
Ottawa has indicated it is considering a national social media ban for children, and some other provinces are also looking at the idea.
Across the globe, governments have been grappling with how to address the issue, with Australia enacting a full social media ban for anyone under 16 and Brazil introducing restrictions like age verification and removing addictive elements.
Doctors Manitoba is also calling for similar measures to reduce infinite scrolling, restrictions on advertising on digital literacy and online safety education for children and youth.
“At the end of the day, our goal is quite simple, to ensure young people can grow up safely, healthy, and supported in a modern digital world,” said Altman.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2026.
