Screen Time & Sexual Health: Meet the Youth Researchers Powering the ALLIES Study
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In honour of SexPlus Week, we’re spotlighting the Youth Researchers behind the ALLIES study. SexPlus Week (formerly Sexual Health Week) is an annual call to action to create a future where sexual health is part of every conversation about health. The ALLIES study brings this vision to life by exploring how screen use influences teens’ sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in today’s digital world.
From exploring how screen use shapes teens’ sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, to challenging stigma and misinformation, these young leaders are asking bold questions about the digital worlds teens navigate every day. In this post, we unpack what the ALLIES study is, why screen use and sexual health matter now more than ever, and introduce some of the inspiring youth researchers driving this important work.
What is The AdoLescent Led Initiative for Exploring Sexual Health and Screen Use (ALLIES)?
The AdoLescent Led Initiative for Exploring Sexual Health and Screen Use (ALLIES) is a youth-led research group based at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). ALLIES brings together passionate and diverse youth researchers who are committed to improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for adolescents.
Grounded in the belief that young people are experts in their own lived experiences, ALLIES operates using the principles of Youth-Led Participatory Action Research (YPAR), an approach that emphasizes shared decision-making, skill-building, and meaningful youth leadership. Through YPAR, youth are not only participants in research, but active investigators who help shape research questions, design study tools, interpret findings, and translate knowledge into action.
ALLIES in collaboration with TARGet Kids! has recently launched the “Teen Health Survey,” a questionnaire for adolescents which asks about attitudes, knowledge, and experiences of screen and media use, relationships, and sexual activity.
What is our rationale for investigating screen use and sexual health?
ALLIES aims to examine how early screen use influences adolescents’ sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. We hypothesize that increased screen use may expose youth to misinformation, harmful content, and heightened sexual health risks. Yet, we are also equally interested in identifying potential benefits of screen use, including the ability of certain platforms to deliver accurate and inclusive sexual health information through digital platforms.
To support this work, we first completed a six-day Youth-Led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) training focused on research skills and adolescent health. We then used our lived experiences and relevant literature to create the Teen Health Survey and collaborated with TARGet Kids! to integrate it into their network.
Meet some of the young people behind ALLIES:
Learn how their interests, backgrounds, and motivations led them to become part of this initiative.
Soliana Lijiam
Medical Student
“As an artist and medical student, I enjoy exploring where art and medicine intersect. I’ve previously created art, graphics, and videos to translate research findings in youth-friendly ways, and I’m excited to use these skills to share what we learn through ALLIES.”
Tahira Rajwani
Psychology Student
“As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work at the University of Toronto's Sexual Education Centre where I provided peer support tok with a diverse range of young adults. Hearing their stories and lived experiences regarding sexual health online— stories of misinformation, but also stories of empowerment— motivated me to pursue this line of research.”
William (Ben) Mazin
Integrated Science (Biology) Student
“My research journey has been shaped by interdisciplinary work across child health, equity, and data analysis. Through roles in child health research, curriculum development, and teaching, I’ve become passionate about centering lived experience and translating evidence into meaningful, real-world impact.”
Ariella Poliszuk
Life Science Student
“Across different research roles, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy analyzing quantitative data and thinking about how numbers can translate into real-world change. I’m excited to use ALLIES study findings to help improve adolescent sexual health in a meaningful way.”
