Social media
Canada’s government has introduced legislation that could prohibit children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts unless platform operators can demonstrate that their services are safe for young users.
The proposed law marks Canada’s latest effort to strengthen online safety and aligns with a growing international push to regulate children’s access to social media. Government officials said platforms could qualify for exemptions if they implement adequate safeguards to protect minors.
“We are failing our children. Enough is enough,” Culture Minister Marc Miller said. “We need basic protection in place.”
The legislation targets seven categories of harmful content, including material that encourages self-harm, incites violence or hatred, and the sharing of non-consensual intimate images.
Under the proposal, a digital safety commission would be established to oversee the framework. The government said details on exemption criteria will be announced later, while Miller noted that setting up the regulator could take up to 18 months.
Social media companies would be required to prove their platforms are safe for children, and age-verification measures would also be introduced.
Canada joins several countries that have introduced or are considering age-based restrictions on social media use by minors. Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have already announced or implemented similar measures, while Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are studying or developing comparable policies.
Platforms that provide adult content would not be eligible for exemptions under the proposed Canadian law.
The legislation would also impose new responsibilities on companies developing artificial intelligence chatbots, requiring them to act responsibly through measures such as crisis intervention protocols.
The move follows developments in Australia, where officials said social media companies have removed access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since a ban on users under 16 took effect. The Australian law sparked extensive debate over technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health, and has encouraged other countries to consider similar restrictions.
A Canadian government official told journalists that authorities intend to study Australia’s experience as the legislation moves forward.
Lianna McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, welcomed the proposal, citing a sharp increase in cases of sextortion on social media platforms.
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