Research Hub

Evidence that underscores the urgency of protecting children’s critical developmental years and the growing movement to help them thrive.

  • "We all agree that young people should reach a certain age before they smoke, drink, or access adult content. The same can be said for social media."

    — President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen

  • " I know that most senior people in tech, certainly in Silicon Valley, do not let their children on social media.... It says a lot."

    — Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney

  • "Digital platforms are taking advantage of children’s vulnerabilities, leading to compulsive internet use, diminished self-worth, body dysmorphia and self-harm."

    —Dr. Charlotte Hepburn Moore, SickKids Child Health Policy Accelerator

  • "Research confirms what educators have long known: smartphones and social media are dismantling the foundations of learning by stunting critical thinking, problem-solving, and social development."

    — Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario

  • "Today, social media addiction is a significant and increasing issue. For example, in Ontario, 78% of students aged 12–18 exceed 3+ hours a day on platforms."

    — Canadian Medical Association

  • "13 is too early … It’s a time where it’s really important for us to be thoughtful about what’s going into how they think about their own self-worth and their relationships. And the skewed and often distorted environment of social media often does a disservice to many of those children."

    — Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

The Research Behind the Pledge: The Anxious Generation

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt links the rise in teen anxiety and social disconnection to the shift from play-based childhoods to phone-based ones. His research underpins Unplugged Canada’s mission to help families delay smartphones so children can grow up playing, resilient, and deeply connected to their communities.

The Research Paints an Alarming Picture

Smartphones, social media use & youth mental health

Canadian Medical Association Journal (2020)

Social media & youth: A call to action

Canadian Paediatric Society (2023)

Social media & youth mental health

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory (2023)

Global Surveys Show Broad Support

Problematic social media use common among NZ teens as government examines age limits
10 facts about teens and social media (Pew Research Centre, 2025)
Phone Restrictions in K-12 Schools: National Survey on Canadian Sentiment
Advocate 16+ for Social Media
Pledge to Delay Smartphones Until 14+