Digital addiction hides in plain sight
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What employers need to know about digital addiction
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ADDICTION doesn’t always revolve around drugs or alcohol – there are other less talked about forms of addiction that are just as harmful. Digital addiction is a form of behavioural addiction that involves a compulsive relationship with technology, one that can negatively affect a person’s overall mental health and well-being.1
However, this addiction, unlike substance abuse, is often hidden and hard to spot – especially when it comes to the workplace. According to data cited by the Center for Internet & Technology Addiction in 2024,2 over 35 percent of people have an internet addiction, 31 percent of respondents say that they’re online “almost constantly,” and 10 percent of social media users admit they’re addicted to it.
Desjardins Insurance offers a wide range of flexible life insurance, health insurance, and retirement savings products and services. It is one of the top life insurance companies in Canada and a member of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada. Desjardins Insurance has been providing innovative services to individuals, groups, and businesses for over a century. These services reflect Desjardins Insurance’s commitment to employee well-being, as demonstrated by the initiatives and partnerships it has participated in over the years.
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“Digital usage in our society is highly protected and highly valued. The consequences may come over time – the erosion of sleep, increased anxiety, comparison, self-doubt. But they don’t come right away”
DR. CHRISTINA BASEDOW, EHN CANADA
Importantly, this form of addiction doesn’t come with a “cold turkey”-style fix. Because in today’s tech-driven world, where everything is online and digitized, it’s increasingly difficult to draw the line between leveraging tech in a productive way and becoming intrinsically, and unhealthily, reliant upon it.
Speaking to Insurance Business, Dr. Christina Basedow, EHN Canada’s chief operating officer, explains that digital addiction looks different for everyone – whether it’s endless scrolling on social media, compulsively checking emails, or binge-watching late into the night, the medium matters less than the motivation. And identifying digital addiction isn’t always straightforward, especially when overuse is disguised in the language of productivity in the workplace.
“It can often be masked as dedication or being responsive,” Dr. Basedow adds. “It’s easy to say, ‘I’m overworking, I have to do this, it’s important, it’s a deadline.’”
That ambiguity makes symptoms difficult to spot – but what really makes digital addiction particularly harmful is its social legitimacy.
“Digital usage in our society is highly protected and highly valued,” Dr. Basedow explains. “The consequences may come over time – the erosion of sleep, increased anxiety, comparison, self-doubt. But they don’t come right away.”
But at what point does a love of technology cross the line into a digital addiction? Dr. Basedow tells IB
that individuals should be concerned much earlier than they might think. The threshold, she explains, is impact.
“If your screen use is interfering with your relationships or responsibilities, that’s concerning,” she adds. “If it’s used as your primary coping tool when you’re emotionally uncomfortable… that creates distress.”
The pandemic-fuelled shift to remote and hybrid work has only intensified these patterns, according to research. A recent study published in 2022 in the Clinical Psychology Review3 highlighted that digital addiction was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, the report found that one-quarter of the general population could be affected by at least one subtype of digital addiction. The study also found that men have a higher prevalence than women when it comes to internet and gaming addiction.
“[Remote work] messed up a lot of components,” says Dr. Basedow. “It’s blurred our work-life boundaries… It’s harder to disconnect and easier to justify compulsive connection. It’s reinforced in high-performing environments. And it’s protected there too.”
productivity is significant. Employees who are frequently distracted by notifications from apps could experience reduced focus, slower task completion, and mental fatigue.
“This ‘digital multitasking’ could lead to more errors and longer work hours, ultimately decreasing overall efficiency,” adds Primard. “Digital overload could also contribute to communication fatigue – when employees are bombarded with messages, emails, and meetings, they may become disengaged and can miss important information. Employees may also be less present in meetings or avoid spontaneous conversations, which are often essential for innovation and building trust within teams.”
‘Culture-level reset’
But how should employers respond if they suspect one of their employees is suffering in silence? Dr. Basedow believes it begins with a culture-level reset.
“Employers need to look internally. What are their expectations around email and availability? If someone’s always online, I might say, ‘You’re always responsive. How is that impacting you? I want to make sure you feel supported.’ [Most importantly], avoid framing the issue as a performance problem. The behaviour often signals burnout or stress, not laziness or lack of focus.”
Structural changes such as clarifying after-hours expectations and normalizing rest could help mitigate the addiction too – as does taking regular “social media breaks.”
For employers, the issue is threefold: how to identify signs of digital addiction in employees, how to respond to those signs, and how to provide employees with the resources and support they need to tackle the addiction head-on. Speaking to IB, Stéfanie Primard, product director – administration and specialized product at Desjardins Insurance, says this begins with helping educate employers on what digital addiction looks like and how it can manifest in the workplace.
“In the workplace, this [digital addiction] can quietly undermine productivity, collaboration, and overall employee well-being,” she tells IB. And the impact on
“It’s essential for group benefit plans to recognize behavioural addictions, such as digital [addiction], alongside substance-related disorders. These conditions can have equally serious impacts on employees’ mental health, productivity, and overall quality of life”
Stéfanie Primard, Desjardins Insurance
Research released in 2024 from Statistics Canada4 highlighted data from 2020 and 2022 showing that of those individuals who took a break from the internet, 44 percent reported experiencing good or excellent mental health. Furthermore, Canadians who spent fewer than 10 hours per week watching content online reported excellent mental health – a 16 percent improvement compared to those who watched 20+ hours of content per week.
“Even email signatures that say, ‘I may work different hours than you – no need to respond immediately’ can shift the tone,” adds Dr. Basedow. “Promoting a culture that values rest as much as productivity – that would be the miracle.”
Aside from cultural and leadership-driven changes, employers also need to consider offering tangible, resource-driven help to their people. This is where comprehensive benefits plans come in. However, while many group plans address substance addiction, they often fall short when it comes to digital addiction – something Primard wants to see change.
“It’s essential for group benefit plans to recognize behavioural addictions, such as digital [addiction], alongside substance-related disorders,” says Primard. “These conditions can have equally serious impacts on employees’ mental health, productivity, and overall quality of life.”
So, what can employers do? For one, group benefit plans must evolve. “A modern benefit plan should offer comprehensive access to mental health support, which includes specialized therapists, psychologists, digital wellness coaches, and an Employee Assistance Program that will address chronic stress and burnout,” says Primard.
Educational tools like self-assessments are also key: “These can empower employees to identify early signs of digital overuse and cultivate healthier digital habits,” adds Primard. “Historically, most group benefit plans have focused on substance use disorders, leaving a gap in support for behavioural disorders – [but] we’re really committed to closing that gap.”
At Desjardins Insurance, their approach includes a suite of services designed to both prevent and manage digital addiction. Their plans provide access to a range of mental health professionals and resources, including the Employee Assistance Program, which offers support from specialist counsellors trained in behavioural addiction.
“Our coverage also includes reimbursement for consultation with licensed psychologists, ensuring that employees who require more specialized or ongoing care can access the support they need,” adds Primard. “We also have a partnership with HALEO, which offers cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). HALEO is a clinically validated sleep therapy that addresses one of the most common side effects of digital addiction – poor sleep.”
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Pandemic pressure led to increased addiction
Published September 8, 2025
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of American adults say that they’re online “almost constantly”
31%
of young adults aged 18 to 22 say they’re addicted to social media
40%
people across the globe struggle with video game addiction
60M
of people have an internet addiction
Over 35%
Source: Center for Internet & Technology Addiction
HOW COMMON is DIGITAL ADDICTION?
Around
Over
‘Digital multitasking, digital overload’
A suite of tools and resources
Source: Center for Internet & Technology Addiction
Increasing trend of digital addiction was worsened by COVID-19 pandemic
Males had higher prevalence of internet addiction and game addiction than females
Low-/lower-middle-income countries had higher burden of digital addiction
of the general population could be affected by at least one subtype of digital addiction
25%
Digital addiction: a global snapshot
And, for those experiencing more severe consequences, Desjardins Insurance’s disability program offers robust coverage.
“Our disability program offers access to appropriate treatment and structured return-to-work support for mental health conditions, including those related to digital addiction,” Primard says.
It’s important to seek the help of experts – which is why Desjardins Insurance has partnered with EHN Canada.
Extensive group benefits coverage
“This ensures access to high-quality, evidence-based care for behavioural health and addiction,” explains Primard. “By integrating prevention, education, therapeutic support, and rehabilitation, [Desjardins Insurance] helps to foster a healthier, more resilient workforce equipped to navigate the mental health challenges of the digital age.”
Looking at treatments that go beyond traditional group plans, Dr. Basedow notes that the path is not yet fully paved, but it’s getting better.
“It’s not something that is often treated the same way as substance use,” she tells IB. But tools do exist – cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, digital detox coaching, and behavioural activation strategies. Still, recovery comes with a unique challenge.
“Full abstinence is impossible,” adds Dr. Basedow. “Technology is embedded in our personal and work lives – so recovery is about retraining behaviours and re-establishing digital boundaries rather than cutting out screentime entirely. Having other people you can talk to about this is useful – group benefits typically will cover some of those through general counselling, tools-based approaches, or cognitive behavioural therapy.
“Make it a normal part of conversation, because people are struggling.”
To learn more about Desjardins Insurance’s group and business insurance solutions and how they can help support a healthy workforce, visit desjardins.com/group-insurance.
1 https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/society/addiction-in-the-digital-age-the-new-epidemics/ - UKAT, Addiction in the digital age: The new epidemics, March 2025.
2 https://virtual-addiction.com/technology-addiction-statistics-2024/ - Center for Internet & Technology Addiction, Technology Addiction Statistics 2024.
3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272735822000137 - Science Direct, Global prevalence of digital addiction in general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis, March 2022.
4 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/22-20-0001/222000012024001-eng.htm – Statistics Canada, Digital well-being: The relationship between technology use, mental health, and interpersonal relationships, January 2024.
Game addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/game-addiction
Internet addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/internet-addiction
Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, and related trademarks are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec used under licence by Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, 200 Rue des Commandeurs, Lévis, QC G6V 6R2 / 1-866-647-5013 desjardinslifeinsurance.com.
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1 https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/society/addiction-in-the-digital-age-the-new-epidemics/ - UKAT, Addiction in the digital age: The new epidemics, March 2025.
2 https://virtual-addiction.com/technology-addiction-statistics-2024/ - Center for Internet & Technology Addiction, Technology Addiction Statistics 2024.
3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272735822000137 - Science Direct, Global prevalence of digital addiction in general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis, March 2022.
4 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/22-20-0001/222000012024001-eng.htm – Statistics Canada, Digital well-being: The relationship between technology use, mental health, and interpersonal relationships, January 2024.
Game addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/game-addiction
Internet addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/internet-addiction
Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, and related trademarks are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec used under licence by Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, 200 Rue des Commandeurs, Lévis, QC G6V 6R2 / 1-866-647-5013 desjardinslifeinsurance.com.
1 https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/society/addiction-in-the-digital-age-the-new-epidemics/ - UKAT, Addiction in the digital age: The new epidemics, March 2025.
2 https://virtual-addiction.com/technology-addiction-statistics-2024/ - Center for Internet & Technology Addiction, Technology Addiction Statistics 2024.
3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272735822000137 - Science Direct, Global prevalence of digital addiction in general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis, March 2022.
4 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/22-20-0001/222000012024001-eng.htm – Statistics Canada, Digital well-being: The relationship between technology use, mental health, and interpersonal relationships, January 2024.
Game addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/game-addiction
Internet addiction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/internet-addiction
Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company. Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, and related trademarks are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec used under licence by Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, 200 Rue des Commandeurs, Lévis, QC G6V 6R2 / 1-866-647-5013 desjardinslifeinsurance.com.