Canada planning social media ban for kids under 16
The government will propose legislation Wednesday banning social media for anyone under 16, mirroring Australia's 2024 law—though enforcement and privacy concerns loom large.
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Canada is planning to propose a ban on social media for children under 16 as part of an online harms bill to be introduced Wednesday. The legislation would allow platforms that meet new safety standards to allow children to opt back in.
The ban mirrors action Australia took last year. But research shows many children there have evaded the restrictions and are still accessing social media.
The proposal is expected to be welcomed by advocates for families concerned about social media's potential negative impact on young people. But some experts in internet law and digital safety question whether bans are the best approach. They argue that implementing age verification is difficult and raises privacy concerns.
The long-awaited online harms bill is also expected to require companies to mitigate harmful content more broadly, not just restrict access for minors.
For Calgary parents and educators, the question is whether a ban will actually work—or whether Canadian teens, like Australian ones, will find ways around it.