Canada is set to join the growing list of countries that are imposing restrictions on social media for children under 16. A bill is likely to be presented in the House of Commons soon.
Initial reports suggest that Canada’s regulations may be a bit more lenient compared to Australia, which is currently leading this trend. There will be more allowances for social media platforms able to demonstrate their safety for younger users.
According to an anonymous government official, the upcoming Canadian bill, expected to be introduced on Wednesday, “will include provisions that would allow platforms to seek exemptions if they can show they can protect the safety of our youngest Canadians when online.” This was disclosed earlier this week.
The official noted, “This bill will not impose a similar ban on AI chatbots, but it will outline responsibilities for these platforms.”
Moreover, the bill is reportedly focused on enforcing the under-16 social media ban and creating a new regulatory body to address various forms of harmful online content.
On Tuesday, Culture Minister Mark Millar was expected to share his thoughts on the proposed legislation, yet he only commented that a stricter regulation of online content is being evaluated “very seriously.”
He said, “It’s evident that we need to protect children from social media. While that’s a significant aspect, it’s not the sole consideration.” Millar also pointed out that social media bans for kids “seem to have public backing.” However, evidence from Australia’s initial year of restrictions showed mixed results, with many children finding ways around the ban. He estimated the effectiveness of the measures at “probably more than 50 percent.”
Professor Caitlin Mendez from Western University shares a similar perspective. She suggested that encouraging social media platforms to “redesign” their frameworks might be a better strategy rather than relying on government efforts to “regulate and supervise young users and attempt to push them off.” Mendez argues this approach might not be effective.
She recommended pushing companies to enhance transparency and focus on specific elements, like auto-playing videos, which can lead children to harmful content or adversely affect their behavior.
Canada’s last major attempt to control social media usage among children took place under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration in early 2025. This bill did not completely ban social media for kids but required platforms to devise safety measures to shield young users from harmful materials and regularly report progress to the government. Ultimately, that bill did not pass in Congress.
Since the previous regulations were repealed in Australia, two significant developments have emerged: the social media ban is slated to commence alongside other countries in December 2025, with similar regulations spreading throughout 2026, even as concerns about online content have intensified following the advent of ChatGPT chatbots. This comes on the heels of the tragic shooting in British Columbia involving an 18-year-old.
The families of several victims have criticized OpenAI and its CEO, alleging that ChatGPT lacks sufficient safeguards against dangerous conversations. Interestingly, ChatGPT’s internal safety team identified the 18-year-old’s violent tendencies during his interactions and shut down his account. However, he simply opened a new account and continued using the service to plan harmful actions.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew recently stated that his province would take steps to prohibit social media and chatbots targeting young individuals, describing them as highly addictive tools that exploit children’s attention and cause mental health issues.
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra also mentioned the possibility of a ban on social media and cell phones in schools, expressing concern about increasing evidence that their usage is becoming problematic in educational settings.
At a recent Liberal Party conference, frustration was voiced by some young attendees who felt they were not given a chance to express their opposition to the ban, raising worries about privacy and data security.
