Canadian youth are using electronic devices more and more, and concerns are growing about how that usage affects their well-being, including their mental health; their academic performance; and other subjective indicators. Yet many important parts of their lives are mediated through a screen, from consuming entertainment and socializing to learning and staying informed. To better understand the amount of time youth are spending in front of screens and possible associated outcomes, this study uses longitudinal data from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth from when youth were aged 12 to 17 in 2019 and 16 to 21 in 2023. Specifically, it looks at relationships between screen time and healthy behaviours and whether screen time is associated with certain well-being outcomes. The study also sheds light on whether physical activity can offset the association between screen time and well-being outcomes.

• Over 1 in 3 Canadian youth (37%) exceeded screen time recommendations in both 2019 and 2023, compared with over 1 in 10 youth (14%) who followed screen time guidelines in both years.
• Men and boys+ (men and boys and some non-binary people), people with a disability, and those living in urban areas were more likely to exceed screen time recommendations than their respective counterparts (women and girls+, people without a disability, and those living in rural areas).
• Youth who followed screen time guidelines were more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than youth who exceeded screen time recommendations.
• Youth who followed screen time guidelines were significantly more likely to report better well-being across a host of outcomes (e.g., mental health, life satisfaction and stress levels) than those who exceeded guidelines.
• Men and boys+ reported better grades when they followed screen time guidelines, while women and girls+ were less likely to report suicidal ideation when they followed guidelines.
• Following physical activity guidelines partially offset some of the associations observed between non-adherence to screen time guidelines and well-being.