Vincent Paquin, MD, MSc'25, PhD, started his research process by asking young people, 鈥淲hat are some questions you would want a clinician to ask you about your digital technology use?鈥� His goals were to better understand the effects of digital technology on young people and to bridge the generational divide.
This novel approach helped him develop concrete recommendations based on hundreds of suggestions received straight from the source. The resulting tool has already been presented to community organizations, research teams, clinicians and political authorities in several countries. The aim is to build trust, improve our understanding of how young people relate to digital technology and intervene more effectively.
For Paquin, our responses to digital technology use aren't always the best ones. 鈥淲e've based our approach on screen time for far too long,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut screen time isn't what matters most. It's how the technology is being used. First, we have to understand what content is being consumed, how it is being consumed and why. Only then can we develop effective public policies and improve our community and clinical interventions.鈥�
He sees it all the time in his practice. Paquin works in early psychosis intervention鈥攁 field where Quebec is at the cutting edge鈥攁t the Jewish General Hospital. His patients are young people aged 16 to 35 for whom digital technology plays a major part in their lives.
What he's learned challenges many of our current assumptions.
Balancing dangers with benefits
Citing his observations with newcomers to Canada and members of the LGBTQ+ community, Paquin notes that 鈥渟ome young people use social media to keep in touch with their home country, connect with their new country, express themselves or seek information and support. Ignoring these benefits can lead to measures that are misguided or unfair.鈥�
But there is cause for concern.
鈥淒igital platforms are evolving and expanding beyond their social purpose,鈥� he says. 鈥淎lgorithms show us provocative and anxiety-inducing content intended to maximize engagement. It's even worse now, with artificial intelligence (AI) infiltrating social media sites and making disinformation and polarizing content easier to spread.鈥�
Balancing science with creativity
Creativity is a big part of Paquin's background. Originally from Trois-Rivi猫res, he enjoyed an early love of technology鈥攁nd music. As a teen, he liked programming and participated in science fairs. 鈥淔or me, technology has always represented a space to play, learn and create,鈥� he says. He wrote music and played in a band that opened for Avec pas d'casque.
Medicine followed. Psychiatry attracted him for one key reason: 鈥淚 got hooked on hearing about other people's lives, on understanding them better.鈥�
He studied at Universit茅 Laval, then completed his psychiatry residency at 成人VR视频, where he also obtained a master's degree. He went on to earn a PhD from Maastricht University, in the Netherlands, where his research focused on the relationship between digital media and psychosis.
Balancing discretion with affirmation
Research is usually conducted out of the limelight, yet media outlets regularly ask Paquin for comment on a range of current events, such as social media bans for children under 16 and the effects of AI and video games on children under 13.
At the end of the day, Paquin is motivated by more than just research. 鈥淲hat matters most is driving concrete change to help young people flourish.鈥� The proof is in the pudding: by integrating young people's voices from the outset, he helps bridge a real gap between those who use digital technologies and those who seek to regulate them.
This article was first published in French:聽脡tudier l'effet du num茅rique sur les jeunes : gare au foss茅 g茅n茅rationnel!