Canada is preparing to tell Big Tech companies they can’t serve teenagers on social media anymore, unless they can prove they’ve implemented effective safety measures. The federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to table an online harms bill around June 10-11 that would ban social media access for anyone under 16, while simultaneously handing compliant platforms a way to sidestep the restriction entirely.
What the bill actually does
The proposed legislation would set 16 as the minimum age for social media use across Canada. The bill includes a provision allowing platforms to apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate they’ve implemented effective safety measures for younger users. Companies that invest in safety tools, content moderation, and protective features for minors could continue operating for that demographic. Companies that don’t, or won’t, get shut out.
The bill also includes provisions targeting artificial intelligence chatbots and the risks they pose to young users. To oversee all of this, Ottawa plans to establish an entirely new digital safety regulator.
The privacy problem and the political backdrop
