Canada plans Social Media ban for children under 16
The Canadian government is preparing legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, while allowing exemptions for companies that can demonstrate they provide adequate protections for young users.
Part of a broader online harms package
The proposed measure forms part of a broader online harms package being advanced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. Under the plan, social media companies would be required to meet standards established by a new digital safety regulator in order to qualify for exemptions from the age restriction.
Place responsibility for compliance on platform operators
The legislation is expected to place responsibility for compliance on platform operators rather than on parents. Companies that fail to meet the new requirements could face significant penalties under the proposed regulatory framework.
In addition to restricting youth access to social media, the bill would establish a process for creating a federal digital safety regulator and introduce measures aimed at addressing harmful online content. The proposal is intended to strengthen protections for children and teenagers in digital environments amid growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth well-being.
The government is not expected to impose the same type of age-based ban on AI chatbots. However, developers of AI systems would be subject to new obligations and safety requirements under the broader online safety framework.
Possible exceptions
The proposal follows similar efforts in other countries, including Australia, which has introduced restrictions on social media access for users under 16. Canadian officials have indicated that platforms demonstrating robust youth-safety protections could be permitted to continue offering services to younger users under the exemption process.
The legislation is expected to undergo parliamentary review before becoming law, with implementation likely to require the establishment of the new regulatory body and the development of enforcement mechanisms.