Protecting youth digital world.
The Look Up Campaign raises awareness about the dangers youth face from excessive digital use, online predators, and unregulated tech platforms. It highlights how screen time, gaming, and social media are directly impacting mental health, emotional development, and safety.
Excessive Screen Time
Youth average 6–8 hours daily on devices, leading to issues with sleep, focus, learning, and addiction.
Mental Health Risks
Spending 3+ hours/day on gaming or social media doubles the risk of anxiety and depression.
Predator Exposure
Every child with a smartphone and app access is solicited at least once, with 500,000 predators online daily in spaces like TikTok, SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook, and Roblox.
Local Alarming Trends
Online luring in Saskatchewan has increased 400% since 2021.
There is zero censorship and regulation protecting children under 19 from harmful or explicit content online. Nearly all youth report experiencing some form of online harm, while tech companies continue to recommend vulnerable profiles to predators.
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TikTok: Highly addictive algorithm; harmful content (violence, self-harm, eating disorders, porn) served to youth every 39 seconds.
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SnapChat: One of the most dangerous apps for youth—predators and drug dealers use SnapMap; widespread sexting, bullying, and image exploitation.
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Instagram/Facebook: Platforms for solicitation, extortion, and exposure to explicit content.
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Roblox: Described as a “pedophile hellscape” with 80% of children reporting exposure to inappropriate material.
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YouTube: Easy access to pornography and harmful content, with average exposure by age 10.
Tech Talk 101: Simple Steps to Keep Kids Safe Online
Protecting children in digital spaces starts at home. These practical steps help reduce risks, promote healthier habits, and keep communication open:
📵 No devices in bedrooms at night
🔒 Set apps to private — no public accounts
🚫 Never accept requests from strangers online
⏱️ Use parental controls (Family Sharing, Family Link, BARK, Game Safe)
🎮 Keep gaming in shared spaces without headphones
👀 Spot check devices regularly
🗣️ Talk openly about online experiences and digital impacts
💡 Model balance — show healthy tech habits as a family
Together, we can push for safer digital environments and protect the well-being of the next generation.
Protecting children online requires more than individual action — it demands systemic change. Here’s what you can do to help…
Call for Regulation:
Contact your provincial and federal representatives to demand stronger laws that hold big tech accountable for protecting kids. Despite the growing risks, the last major tech legislation was passed in 1996. Today, hundreds of children around the world lose their lives each month due to online harms, yet tech companies face little regulation or responsibility.
Safer Communication:
Encourage coaches, schools, and youth organizations to use safer communication platforms instead of apps like Snapchat, which expose youth to significant risks.
Resources
The Anxious Generation - Jonathan Haidt (book)
HeartTalk with Laura Lawrence podcast - Find it on Apple/Spotify
Scrolling to Death Podcast with Nikki Reisberg - Find it on Apple/Spotify
www.protectchildren.ca
www.cybertip.ca
FOLLOW @youthmattercanada + @lauralawrence.author on Instagram
