Canada Proposes Social Media Ban For Children Under 16

Canada has introduced sweeping digital safety legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms unless those platforms meet specific safety standards. The proposed law also seeks to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots, making Canada one of the first countries to combine youth social media protections with AI oversight under a single framework.

The legislation was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday and follows growing international efforts to address concerns about the impact of digital platforms on young people’s wellbeing.

New Restrictions On Social Media Access

Under the proposed Digital Safety Act, social media platforms would be prohibited from allowing users under 16 to access their services unless they comply with government-approved safety requirements.

Companies that fail to meet the new standards could face significant penalties. The legislation allows for fines of up to 3% of a company’s global revenue or C$10 million, whichever amount is greater.

Marc Miller, Canada’s Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, said the government believes many digital platforms are designed to maximise user attention at the expense of healthy childhood development.

He argued that excessive social media use has contributed to anxiety, isolation, depression and other mental health challenges among young Canadians. According to Miller, the proposed measures aim to create a safer online environment while encouraging children to build real-world relationships, focus on education and develop practical life skills.

AI Chatbots Also Face New Oversight

In addition to social media restrictions, the bill introduces measures aimed at improving the safety of AI-powered chatbots.

The government plans to establish a dedicated digital regulator responsible for creating and enforcing safety standards for both social media platforms and artificial intelligence systems. Officials said the regulator would play a central role in monitoring compliance and protecting users from potential digital harms.

The proposal comes weeks after families affected by one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The lawsuit alleges that the company was aware of warning signs related to the alleged attacker’s interactions with ChatGPT but failed to alert law enforcement authorities.

Part Of A Growing Global Trend

Canada’s proposal follows Australia’s landmark decision in December to become the first country to ban social media access for children under 16. Australian authorities reported that social media companies collectively deactivated nearly five million teenage accounts in the month following the law’s introduction.

Meanwhile, several European countries are considering similar measures. France, Denmark and Poland are reviewing stricter rules governing children’s social media use. Greece has also announced plans to prohibit access for users under 15 beginning in January 2027.

Technology companies have responded cautiously to Canada’s proposal. Google, which owns YouTube, said it is committed to working with the federal government to establish stronger safety standards that give parents greater confidence and control over their children’s online experiences.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stated that it supports safe and positive online experiences for young people and is reviewing the details of the legislation. X and Snapchat did not immediately comment on the proposal.

Long Legislative Process Ahead

Government officials indicated that the bill could take up to a year to pass through Parliament. Once approved, establishing the new digital regulator may require an additional 18 months.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government holds only a narrow majority in Parliament, and lawmakers are expected to begin their summer recess shortly, potentially affecting the timeline for consideration.

Brett Caraway, an associate professor at the University of Toronto specialising in technology and privacy, said Canada’s approach appears broader than Australia’s model. He noted that the proposal focuses not only on restricting access but also on redesigning platform responsibilities to improve safety. Furthermore, its inclusion of AI regulation significantly expands its scope beyond existing international examples.

With inputs from Reuters