Older Quebecers spend more time online, close screen time gap: study

Quebecers’ screen time increased by almost an hour in just one year as gap between generations is closing, according to a study.

A recent NETendances study from Université Laval found that Quebecers active on social media now spend an average of 3 hours and 41 minutes a day online — that is 51 minutes more than a year ago.

“We’ve known that the younger generation, so 18 to 34, they’ve been spending about four hours a day on social media,” said Astrid Alemao, project manager of NETendances.

“But now what we’re seeing is that older generations, so 34 and even 55 and older, they are spending much time. So that gap is really closing between generations.”

The biggest increase in screen time was among users 55 and older —up 77 minutes— compared with an increase of 13 minutes for those aged 18 to 34.

Université Laval psychology & assistant professor Youssef Allami says that older people may be increasingly relying on devices to connect with family members or use it for entertainment.

“One of the main elements that older folks were looking on these streaming services was also a way of catching up on news, a way of catching up on shows,” Allami said.

Facebook is still the go‑to platform for people over 25, but it’s the short, vertical videos (reels) that are really changing habits.

Users say they’re spending about two more hours a day on TikTok and Instagram than on other apps. And across all age groups, almost half (48 per cent) admit they have a hard time putting their phones away during downtime. 

Montrealer Cassandra, who is in her 20s, says, “I doom scroll. So, reels, TikTok, Instagram.”

Thomas also says the apps can be addictive and he would constantly be on the phone.

“My attention span was so garbage that I couldn’t watch a show, I would watch TikTok,” Thomas said. “I was like, this is pathetic. It’s terrible.”

Allami says content creators and apps are designed to keep users engaged longer.

“You’re seeing videos that the algorithm knows you’re going to be interested in. It’s going to make you react, even if it’s negatively, but you’re going to react to those videos,” Allami explains.

“Because the platforms are built this way, the content creators, they are following those rules,” he adds.

Corey, who is part of the 55+ age group, said, “If people of my age and up are spending that much more time on it, it’s because they’re missing something, and they think they’re going to get it there, but they’re not.”

However, Allami says spending more time on screen doesn’t necessarily be it’s a problem.

“When you find that someone tends to develop problems such as emotional coping problems, social problems, having difficulty concentrating at work or school, well, that’s when it actually starts to be considered a problem, and not just a question about time,” he says.