Health Reports, May 2024

Recreational screen time increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some groups were more impacted than others

The pandemic affected the daily lives of Canadians, with increased telework, virtual school and a reduction in social activities. The article "Sociodemographic differences in recreational screen time before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada" shows that recreational screen time also increased during the pandemic, and some groups within the population were more impacted than others.

The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend that recreational screen time be limited to no more than two hours per day among children and youth aged 5 to 17 years, and no more than three hours per day among adults aged 18 years and older. Increased recreational screen time has been associated with poorer self-reported mental health.

The percentage of Canadian youth meeting the screen time recommendation (i.e., two hours or less per day) dropped from 33% in 2018 to 22% in 2021. The percentage of Canadian adults meeting the screen time recommendation (i.e., three hours or less per day) dropped from 71% in 2018 to 62% in 2021. The biggest decrease in the percentage of people meeting the screen time recommendation was observed among young adults aged 18 to 34 years, followed by youth and adults aged 65 years and older.

Black youth and East or Southeast Asian adults were less likely to meet the screen time recommendation when compared with non-racialized Canadians. Lower income Canadians were less likely to meet the screen time recommendation when compared with higher income Canadians.

These findings, using three cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey, demonstrate the importance of monitoring the indirect impacts of the pandemic. The results of this study may inform the development of tailored interventions during the pandemic recovery period.