Canada's social media ban for under-16s goes to parliament

Canada has introduced legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from holding social media accounts, joining a broader international push to strengthen online protections for minors.

The bill, introduced to parliament by Culture Minister Marc Miller, is aimed at providing what the government describes as "basic protection" for children. Miller said, "Enough is enough" in reference to what he described as insufficient safeguards currently in place, reports the Guardian.

The proposed law targets seven categories of harmful content, including content inducing self-harm, content inciting violence or fomenting hatred, and non-consensual intimate images.

It also extends regulatory requirements to artificial intelligence chatbots, requiring them to implement "crisis intervention protocols" and operate responsibly.

Under the proposal, the ban would not be absolute. Social media companies may apply for an exemption if they can demonstrate that their platforms include sufficient protections for children. However, platforms hosting adult content would not be eligible for such exemptions.

The government also plans to establish a Digital Safety Commission to oversee enforcement of the rules, a process expected to take up to 18 months. Mandatory age verification systems would also be introduced, with further criteria for exemptions to be set out at a later stage.

Internationally, Canada is drawing on approaches taken by other countries. Australia has already implemented a similar ban, which resulted in the revocation of approximately 4.7 million accounts. Brazil and Indonesia have also announced comparable restrictions, while the United Kingdom, France and South Korea are examining similar measures.

The initiative has received support from child protection advocates, including Lianna McDonald of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, who pointed to a rise in "sextortion" on social media as a key concern driving the push for tighter regulation.