Millions of Canadians search for ways to delete their social media accounts every year — and Ontario experts say the urge to unplug is more than just a trend. New analysis from NordVPN shows that online searches related to deleting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, LinkedIn and TikTok spike sharply every January and again in the summer, as people rethink their digital habits and look for a fresh start.
According to Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, the seasonal pattern reflects moments when Canadians pause to reassess their routines. The company examined Google search data from April 2024 to March 2025 across Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, revealing millions of queries related to account deletion each year.
Ontario clinical psychologist Dr. Gary Goldfield says the motivation is rooted in mental health and well-being. January brings resolutions to reset habits, while summer encourages more real-world connection. Many people instinctively know they will feel better if they cut back — especially youth, who are among the most vulnerable to the psychological effects of heavy social media use.
Goldfield, a senior scientist at the CHEO Research Institute and professor at the University of Ottawa, says his research has consistently shown that reducing or eliminating social media use yields substantial benefits. Participants reported lower levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness, along with better sleep, improved body image, and higher physical activity — often within just a few weeks. Deleting apps also reduces exposure to cyberbullying and harmful or distorted content, particularly images promoting unrealistic beauty standards.
While many people experience a temporary spike in anxiety or FOMO during the first week of disconnection, Goldfield says those symptoms quickly fade as users develop healthier habits and find alternative ways to socialize. For teens, especially girls and those with pre-existing mental health challenges, the harm of constant online engagement can be even more severe. He notes that current age-verification tools are inconsistent and easy for minors to bypass, while parental controls offer limited protection.
Goldfield believes governments need to step in, pointing to the United Kingdom’s and Australia’s online safety laws, which impose legal duties on platforms to protect young users. In Canada, the former Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) aimed to hold platforms accountable but was never passed.
The benefits of a digital detox extend beyond mental health. Toronto cybersecurity expert Edward Kiledjian says deleting social media reduces a person’s “attack surface” — the amount of information available for hackers to exploit. Public profiles help fuel identity theft, phishing scams, and fraud. By removing online traces, people make it harder for cybercriminals to craft targeted attacks or steal personal data.
Kiledjian adds that even businesses benefit when employees scale back their personal online sharing, reducing the risk of unintentionally leaking internal information or corporate relationships.
For those ready to take the next step, experts recommend digital deletion tools such as Aura’s data removal service, Redact for mass deletion of old posts, Incogni for removing data from websites, and DeleteMe for erasing personal information.
Whether motivated by mental wellness, safety, or the desire for a quieter life, the push for a social media detox is gaining momentum — and Ontario experts say the science supports stepping away from the screen.