IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS

WELLBEING

We Are Happy & Respected

INTRO | WE ARE HAPPY & RESPECTED

UNICEF Canada defines this domain of wellbeing as feeling satisfied with life, valued and respected, confident, balanced across life’s dimensions, purposeful, and able to cope with stress. It also recognizes times when youth may feel sadness or hopelessness.

Our research asks: How do young people themselves define personal wellbeing and digital wellbeing? And how happy are they with the role and impact of digital technology on their overall sense of wellbeing?

DIGITAL PORTRAITS

Hear directly from Canadian Gen Z youth in these short videos.

Filmed 2024–2025.

RESEARCH SNAPSHOT | WE ARE SECURE

by: Dr. James Stinson

Digital transformation affects both what young people need to live well and how they feel about their lives. The OECD notes that the digital age creates new opportunities and risks for wellbeing, including how trust, privacy, and digital literacy shape subjective experiences (Hatem & Ker, 2021).

The OECD well-being framework stresses that objective conditions (income, housing, education) must be combined with subjective evaluations of life satisfaction and emotional states to give a full picture of how people experience their lives. 

(OECD, 2019; Hatem & Ker, 2021)

Happiness and life satisfaction are widely recognised as key indicators of subjective wellbeing, and are now used alongside objective indicators to track societal progress.

Subjective well-being encompasses hedonic experiences (positive or negative affect/feeling), evaluative judgments (overall life satisfaction) and eudaimonic dimensions (sense of purpose and meaning), all of which can be influenced by digital technologies.

(Intahchomphoo & Vellino, 2024; Weeden & Kelly, 2021)

This review synthesizes findings from multiple studies to examine how digital technology impacts Canadian youth’s access to:

(1) Income and Employment
(2) Housing
(3) Food Security
(4) Education
(5) Healthcare & the broader implications for socio-economic wellbeing

INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT

Access to digital technologies is closely linked to youth employment opportunities in Canada. Research demonstrates that youth from lower-income households or rural areas often lack reliable access to internet-enabled devices and digital literacy, limiting their ability to access online job platforms or remote work opportunities (Finnie, Mueller, & Sweetman, 2018; Kelly, 2020; McMahon, Akcayir, McNally, & Okheena, 2021).

The emergence of the gig economy, characterized by platform-mediated freelance or short-term work, has created both opportunities and vulnerabilities for young Canadians (Kostyshyna & Luu, 2019; MacDonald & Giazitzoglu, 2019; Orth, 2025). Digital platforms facilitate flexible employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, yet they also expose youth to precarious conditions, including unstable income, lack of social protections, and algorithmic oversight that shapes work availability and remuneration (Rosenblat, 2018; Thirgood & Johal, 2016; Smit & Stopforth, 2023).

Gender and intersectional disparities further complicate digital employment access. Young women and racialized youth are disproportionately represented in lower-paying or insecure digital gig work, highlighting structural inequalities in the digital economy (Hunt & Samman, 2019; Hassan & Daniel, 2020).

Similarly, Indigenous youth and youth in remote northern communities encounter barriers to online labor markets due to limited connectivity, inadequate devices, and lower digital literacy (McMahon et al., 2021; Intahchomphoo, 2018; Weeden & Kelly, 2021). These inequities underscore the importance of targeted interventions to enhance digital skills and ensure equitable access to digital employment pathways.

HOUSING

Digital technology increasingly mediates access to housing resources, including rental platforms, online applications, and communications with landlords. Studies indicate that youth who lack reliable internet or digital skills may face difficulties in locating suitable housing, resulting in housing insecurity (Templeman, Anderson, & MacKenzie, 2024; Patial, Torres, Berezan, Talwar, & Davidson, 2025).

Moreover, unstable or insecure housing can directly limit access to digital technologies. Youth experiencing homelessness, temporary accommodations, or frequent residential mobility often lack stable internet connections, devices, or private spaces to use technology effectively, compounding existing digital inequities (Singh & Chobotaru, 2022; Jonsson, 2024; Templeman et al., 2024). Digital exclusion also restricts youth from accessing online resources related to tenant rights, affordable housing programs, and support services, leaving marginalized youth without critical information for securing stable housing (Singh & Chobotaru, 2022; Jonsson, 2024).

Youth from marginalized communities—including newcomers, racialized groups, and Indigenous populations—experience compounded barriers when attempting to access housing digitally. Inadequate connectivity and low digital literacy exacerbate vulnerabilities in housing markets increasingly mediated through digital platforms (Calderón-Gómez, Casas-Mas, Urraco-Solanilla, & Revilla, 2020; Templeman et al., 2024). These findings highlight the intersection of socio-economic and digital inequities, suggesting that housing interventions must consider digital accessibility as a core component of equity-focused policy design.

FOOD SECURITY

Digital technology can influence access to food and nutrition resources. Online platforms offer avenues to locate food banks, community meal programs, and nutrition education materials, potentially mitigating food insecurity among youth (Vergeer et al., 2025; Norman et al., 2025).

However, youth without reliable internet access or digital literacy may remain unaware of such resources, reinforcing existing disparities in material wellbeing (Templeman et al., 2024; Rideout, 2016). Research further demonstrates that exposure to digital marketing, particularly related to unhealthy foods, can exacerbate socio-economic inequalities in nutrition. Youth from lower-income backgrounds are more likely to encounter targeted digital food advertising, which may influence purchasing patterns and dietary outcomes (Vergeer et al., 2025). Consequently, digital inclusion efforts must address both access and literacy, ensuring that youth can navigate online spaces critically and equitably.

EDUCATION

Education represents one of the most profoundly impacted domains by the digital divide. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly illustrated disparities in access to online learning resources, as students without sufficient devices or broadband connectivity experienced significant educational setbacks (Cheshmehzangi et al., 2023; Haight, Quan-Haase, & Corbett, 2016; Kelly, 2020). Students from low-income households, Indigenous communities, and racialized backgrounds were disproportionately affected, reflecting structural inequalities in both digital and educational access (Harris et al., 2017; Hassan & Daniel, 2020; Intahchomphoo, 2018).

Studies in Ontario and Manitoba demonstrate that school-based digital initiatives, while improving access, often fail to reach the most marginalized youth unless accompanied by broader support structures, including digital literacy training and culturally relevant content (Chen, 2015; Looker & Thiessen, 2003; Ashton & Girard, 2013). Beyond access, disparities exist in the utility of digital tools, with some youth lacking skills to leverage technology for learning effectively (Calderón Gómez, 2018; Micheli, 2015; Korovkin, Park, & Kaganer, 2023).


Digital inequities also affect post-secondary and career pathways. Young Canadians navigating the digital economy require advanced digital competencies to participate in higher education and secure skilled employment (Finnie et al., 2018; Nordin & Mathew, 2024). Insufficient access to technology and skill development can constrain socio-economic mobility, reinforcing cycles of disadvantage. Bridging these gaps through inclusive educational policies and targeted digital literacy programs is essential for equitable youth development (Gurbanli & Mammadzada, 2024; Parsons & Hick, 2008).

HEALTHCARE

Digital technology has reshaped healthcare access for youth, particularly through telemedicine, online mental health services, and health information platforms (Skinner, Biscope, Poland, & Goldberg, 2003; Norman et al., 2025). For youth in rural or remote regions, digital tools offer critical access to healthcare services otherwise unavailable locally (McMahon et al., 2021; Intahchomphoo & Vellino, 2024).

However, disparities in digital access and literacy can impede the utilization of online healthcare services. Youth without adequate devices or connectivity may face delays in accessing care, lack awareness of available resources, or be unable to navigate digital health systems effectively (Norman et al., 2025; Murray, 2021). Additionally, reliance on online sources for health information exposes youth to misinformation, especially in the absence of digital literacy skills to evaluate content critically (Skinner et al., 2003; Shahzad, 2024). Equitable access to digital healthcare, therefore, requires both infrastructure investments and education in digital health literacy.

CONCLUSION

Access to digital technology is a critical determinant of material security and socio-economic wellbeing among Canadian youth. Digital inequalities affect youth’s ability to secure income, housing, food, education, and healthcare, exacerbating existing disparities based on income, race, Indigenous identity, and geographic location.

 (Harris et al., 2017; Hassan & Daniel, 2020; Koch, 2022)

Bridging the digital divide requires comprehensive interventions that integrate infrastructure expansion, skill development, culturally relevant content, and supportive policies across multiple domains. Addressing digital inequities is essential to ensure that all youth in Canada can fully participate in the socio-economic opportunities of the digital age.

(Shade et al., 2020; Parsons & Hick, 2008; Korovkin et al., 2023)
How to Cite this Text: Stinson, J. (2025). We Are Secure. In Digital Wellbeing Hub. Young Lives Research Lab. https://www.digitalwellbeinghub.ca/we-are-secure — Funded by the Government of Canada.

RESOURCES

Digital Well-being: Tech Use & Adolescent Mental Health

Statistics Canada

Canadian data linking social, messaging, and gaming use with mental health, sleep, and cybervictimization.

Read the Report

Young Canadians in a Wireless World: Life Online

MediaSmarts

Canada’s flagship study on youth & tech—wellbeing, unplugging, and experiences online.

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Digital Well-Being of Canadian Families

MediaSmarts

What supports healthy family tech habits and balance.

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Children’s Wellbeing in a Digital World — Index

Internet Matters

Annual index tracking how online experiences shape wellbeing.

See Report

Teens, Social Media & Mental Health (2025)

Pew Research Center

Fresh data on teen experiences and perceived impacts of social media.

Read Now

APA Health Advisory: Social Media in Adolescence

American Psychological Association

Evidence-informed recommendations to minimize risks and maximize benefits.

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Exposure to Harmful Online Content (Canada)

Statistics Canada

Who encounters harmful content and how often.

See Findings

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OECD

Synthesis of research on 39 digital impacts on wellbeing.

Read the Report

Research Database

Digital Futures for Children

Free database of good-quality research on children’s digital lives.

Explore Now

Digital and Privacy Rights: Resources for Children, Youth, Educators, & Parents

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Resources for advancing digital rights, and preparing to be safe and responsible digital citizens.

Explore

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Susan Crown Exchange

Three youth-tested activities to build healthier digital habits.

Get the Guide

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5Rights Foundation

Youth-friendly version of the UN General Comment No. 25.

Read Now

Your Rights Online

Digital Futures for Children

Youth-friendly site about rights, safety, and fun online.

Explore

Report Harmful Content

UK Safer Internet Centre

How to report or remove abuse/disrespect across platforms.

Use the Tool

NeedHelpNow.ca

Canadian Centre for Child Protection

Steps to take if an intimate image of a minor is shared online.

Get Support

How Technology Can Be Part of a Happy Life

Greater Good Science Center

Science-based tips for tech that supports happiness.

Read Article

Why Going Offline Might Save Us

Science of Happiness (GGSC)

What we gain by unplugging and reconnecting IRL.

Listen Now

Healthy Relationship with Technology

Greater Good Science Center

Curated, evidence-based tips and activities.

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BBC Bitesize: Happy & Healthy Online

BBC

Interactive lessons and games for younger audiences.

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Smiling Mind

Smiling Mind

Free nonprofit mindfulness app with age-based programs for kids, teens, and adults.

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Calm Harm

stem4

$2.99 in Canada: provides strategies to manage the urge to self-harm.

Get App

Daylio

Daylio

Free journaling and mood tracking app to support self-reflection and wellbeing.

Get App

Clear Fear

stem4

$2.99 in Canada: app offers strategies to manage anxiety, developed with youth input.

Get App

Move Mood

stem4

Free app supporting young people to increase motivation and improve mood.

Get App

Combined Minds

stem4

$2.99 in Canada: gives guidance for friends and family supporting someone with mental health challenges.

Get App

Apart of Me

Apart of Me

Therapeutic game designed to help young people cope with grief and loss.

Get App

Embracing Life App

Embracing Life Initiative

Feel more positive/connected and reach out to support someone you’re worried about.

Get the App

Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment

United Nations – General Comment No. 25

Authoritative guidance on implementing children’s rights online.

Read Now

Digital Citizenship Curriculum

Common Sense Education

Free K–12 curriculum on balance, empathy, privacy and respect online.

Get Curriculum

Social Media Advice Hub

Internet Matters

Tips for families and schools to foster respect and kindness online.

Go to Hub

Dealing with Online Abuse / Negative Behaviour

eSafety Commissioner (Australia)

Practical support for LGBTIQ+ young people and the adults who help them.

Learn More

Be an Upstander

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Interactive toolkit for responding to online hate and disrespect.

Visit Resource

Canada's State of the Youth Report

Government of Canada

Results and recommendations from consultations with 996 young people across Canada, including Health & Wellness.

Read the Report

67 — Strict Screen Time Blocker

Created by a Canadian youth

Free iPhone app that blocks your distracting apps once you hit your daily screen time limit, then makes you wait 67 minutes for a short break. (Apple App Store only; not available on Android.)

Get App

Explore More Dimensions of Wellbeing

Visit the other domains of youth wellbeing on the Hub.

Explore
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