Former CFL player and mental-health advocate Henoc Muamba is urging Canadian men to be more conscious of how much time they spend on social media, citing research that links extended daily use with markedly higher mental-health risks.
High usage, higher risk
Muamba, who has played in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League, told CTV Your Morning that he was surprised by the volume of time many men spend on social platforms but that he understands why.
“You’re comparing your behind-the-stage real life to people’s highlights,” Muamba said.
Data from the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation cited by the interview show that more than half of men aged 19 to 44 report spending more than three hours a day on social media. The foundation’s earlier research also found that, for men aged 19 to 29, 73 per cent reported more than three hours of daily use.
| Age group | Percentage spending >3 hours/day |
|---|---|
| 19–29 | 73% |
| 19–44 | More than 50% |
The foundation’s research linked spending more than three hours per day on social platforms to significantly elevated mental-health concerns: roughly a doubling of the risk of moderate to severe anxiety and about a tripling of the risk of depression, anger and suicidal ideation among those affected.
Comparison, community and control
Muamba emphasised that social media itself is not inherently bad. Instead, he pointed to social comparison as a primary driver of harm, where users measure their ordinary lives against others’ curated highlights. He urged men to recognise this dynamic and take steps to change their relationship with online platforms.
- Be aware of time spent online and set personal limits;
- Use social media deliberately to build connections, not to compulsively scroll;
- Seek supportive communities on platforms while avoiding content that triggers negative comparison.
“I spend quite a bit (of time on social media) as well, but I’m actually trying to be more aware and conscious about it,” Muamba said, underscoring that awareness and small behavioural changes can be part of a broader mental-health strategy. He said he is not seeking to vilify social media but wants men to take control of how they use it.
Implications for public health and prevention
The findings cited in the interview have practical implications for public-health messaging and mental-health services. If extended social-media use substantially increases risks of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among men, targeted prevention efforts — including digital literacy, time-management strategies and screening in primary-care settings — may help mitigate harm.
Health-care providers and community organisations could incorporate questions about social-media use into routine mental-health assessments for younger men, the demographic showing the highest reported usage. Public campaigns that model healthy online behaviours and encourage offline activities may also be useful complements to clinical care.
Muamba suggested that men try to replace doomscrolling with purposeful activity and to cultivate awareness of how online habits affect mood and self-worth. His message centres on choice and control: social media can be a tool for community, but users should be intentional about how they engage with it.
The interview and the cited research add to an expanding body of evidence linking digital behaviours with mental-health outcomes, highlighting the need for both individual strategies and systemic responses to protect the well-being of Canadian men.
