Sault Ste. Marie Councillor Warns of Social Media's Toll on Youth Mental Health

Coun. Corey Gardi says overuse of social media is the biggest issue affecting young people in the city.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Sault Ste. Marie city councillor Corey Gardi warned that overuse of social media is the biggest factor impacting the mental health of local youth, as the city council approved a new community safety and well-being plan. Gardi, an educator with extensive experience working with young people, said social media is causing anxiety and affecting self-image among the city's youth. While acknowledging parental responsibility, Gardi felt social media should have been addressed in the new plan. Other councillors also wanted more emphasis on issues like intimate partner violence.

Why it matters

Sault Ste. Marie, like many communities, is grappling with the mental health challenges facing its youth population. Councillor Gardi's comments highlight the growing concern over the detrimental effects of social media overuse, which can contribute to anxiety, depression, and poor self-image in young people. Addressing this issue could be crucial for supporting the overall well-being of the city's youth.

The details

During a city council meeting, Ward 5 Councillor Corey Gardi, who has 25 years of experience as an educator, stated that he believes social media overuse is the biggest factor impacting the mental health of young people in Sault Ste. Marie. Gardi said he was concerned that the new community safety and well-being plan did not specifically address social media addiction, which he sees as a major challenge for the city's youth. Other councillors also felt the plan did not adequately cover issues like intimate partner violence.

  • The new community safety and well-being plan was approved by city council on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Corey Gardi

A city councillor in Sault Ste. Marie and an educator with 25 years of experience working with young people at the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board. He is also the current president of the Huron-Superior branch of the Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario.

Angela Caputo

A city councillor in Sault Ste. Marie who expressed disappointment that the community safety and well-being plan did not place a greater emphasis on intimate partner violence.

Lisa Case

The chief executive officer of the Canadian Mental Health Association Algoma, who issued a statement on behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie HART Hub, welcoming the city's new community safety and well-being plan.

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What they’re saying

“If we could, in some form or fashion, just flag that and see how we as a community could maybe do something collectively to address that issue.”

— Corey Gardi, City Councillor (Sootoday)

“Working with young people on a daily basis, I can be confident in telling you that if we're looking at challenges as it relates to achievement in any form, ways of managing their mental health … I think social media should be embedded someplace in our community plans such as this.”

— Corey Gardi, City Councillor (Sootoday)

“All of us know our young people — well, all of us, but specifically our young people who are very easily influenced and are still developing — spend a heck of a lot of time on platforms that do nothing for them.”

— Corey Gardi, City Councillor (Sootoday)

What’s next

The city council may still make additions or deletions to the community safety and well-being plan as it is implemented over the next five years.

The takeaway

Councillor Gardi's comments highlight the growing concern over the mental health impacts of social media use among youth in Sault Ste. Marie. As the city implements its new community safety and well-being plan, addressing this issue could be crucial for supporting the overall well-being of the city's young people.