City council asked to endorse chief medical officers' position on social media and children's health

The Board of Health is proposing that Toronto City Council endorse a national position statement from Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health warning that social media, smartphones and online platforms pose documented harms to children and youth. The statement calls for coordinated action across families, schools, health systems, communities, industry and government to address digital culture through a public health lens. Council endorsement would signal alignment with the Board of Health's October 2025 direction to develop a Toronto Healthy Schools Strategy focusing on student mental health and screen time impacts.

not yet heardToronto City Council · Wed, Jul 29You can weigh inProvince decides

Also in this item

• The position statement links to the Board of Health's October 2025 direction on the Toronto Healthy Schools Strategy, which already committed to examining screen time impacts on student mental health; this endorsement would formalize a broader public health coordination framework.

The journey

Mon, Jul 13 · Board of Health · amended

Wed, Jul 29 · Toronto City Council · not yet heard

→ referred onward

Time to act

You can weigh in

Residents concerned about digital wellness and child mental health can contact their councillors before the vote to express support or concern. Public deputation may be available if the item is opened for delegation. Written comments can be submitted to council members.

Why is this story here?

ContainedAn endorsement of a national position statement is a symbolic commitment aligned with an existing Board of Health direction (October 2025 item HL28.1). It directs no new spending, creates no new institutional mechanism, and does not override an existing decision. It is reversible and bounded to Toronto's public health messaging and coordination with schools. The substance is alignment on a principle, not a structural change.Touches a narrow groupDigital culture and child mental health are live subjects affecting school-age children and families. However, the item itself, a council endorsement of a position statement, creates no immediate change to services, access, or daily experience. The endorsement is a public health signalling tool; the actual work (healthy schools strategy, screen time education) is already underway. No resident's week changes when council votes on this. The salience is in the *subject*, not in the *effect of this action*.

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Official title: Endorsement of the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health Position Statement on Digital Culture and Child and Youth Well-Being · meeting video