Ottawa funds research on digital media and youth well-being
Children’s Healthcare Canada will receive $376,540 to study digital engagement, disinformation and youth mental health.
The federal government is providing $376,540 to Children’s Healthcare Canada for a project examining how digital environments affect young people’s mental health and well-being.
The Mind Over Media project will study the impacts, possible harms and costs linked to digital engagement and disinformation, according to a Canadian Heritage announcement. It is also intended to give health experts practical resources and inform future online-safety policy.
The funding announcement is separate from Bill C-34, the proposed Safe Social Media Act. That bill would create duties for regulated social-media and AI-chatbot services, including child safeguards, risk mitigation, removal of certain harmful content and public digital-safety plans.
Bill C-34 was introduced in June 2026 but still requires parliamentary study and passage before becoming law. The research project is funded work; the bill’s platform obligations remain proposals.
Source: Canadian Heritage — September 9, 2026.
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