Canadians now spend nearly a third of their lives online

The internet has quietly become one of the largest consumers of Canadians’ lives.

A new global study commissioned by cybersecurity company NordVPN estimates that the average Canadian is now on track to spend 25 years, two months and 11 days online over the course of their lifetime. Compared with the average life expectancy of 83 years, that means nearly one-third of life will be lived connected to the digital world.

The findings reveal a profound cultural shift. The internet has become the environment in which modern life increasingly takes place.

Canadians now spend an average of 50 hours online every week, beginning around 7:00 a.m. and remaining connected until approximately 10:00 p.m. every day. That level of connectivity represents a dramatic increase from similar research conducted in 2022, when Canadians were projected to spend roughly three fewer years online during their lifetime.

The largest share of digital time is devoted to entertainment. Canadians spend more than six hours each week binge-watching television and movies, followed by watching online videos, streaming music, and scrolling social media, which now accounts for nearly five hours every week.

Artificial intelligence has also become part of everyday digital life.

The survey found Canadians now spend 37 minutes every week interacting with AI chatbots. While only one in ten respondents currently considers AI essential to daily life, many already believe it has made their online experience more productive and convenient, suggesting that AI’s influence is likely to expand rapidly in the years ahead.

However, increased convenience has arrived alongside growing concerns about privacy and cybersecurity.

Despite heightened awareness about online risks, Canadians continue to share significant amounts of personal information online. Nearly three-quarters have disclosed their full names, more than two-thirds have shared their dates of birth, and over half have provided their home addresses to online platforms.

At the same time, nearly one-third of Canadians admit they cannot imagine spending a full day offline, while more than one-third regularly use social media while simultaneously watching television or movies, a reflection of an increasingly fragmented attention economy.

For Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, these numbers point to something much larger than changing technology habits. He argues that digital platforms are steadily reshaping the human experience itself, blurring the distinction between online and offline life while exposing people to greater risks of scams, identity theft, phishing attacks and the misuse of personal information.

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everyday routines, cybersecurity experts say digital literacy must evolve beyond creating strong passwords. Canadians are being encouraged to think more carefully about the information they share with AI systems, verify suspicious emails and messages before responding, monitor for signs of identity theft, and use trusted privacy tools to help secure their online activity.

The report ultimately raises a larger question that extends beyond cybersecurity.

If Canadians are now spending nearly a third of their lives online, protecting digital privacy has become a public issue touching mental well-being, personal freedom, trust, and the future of everyday life in an increasingly connected society.