Canada Proposes Ban on Social Media Use for Children Under 16 Under New Safety Bill

Canada has proposed a digital safety law that could ban children under 16 from using social media unless platforms meet strict safety standards. The bill targets harmful online content and introduces rules for AI chatbots, along with a new regulator to enforce compliance. Officials say it aims to protect children’s mental health, with penalties for violations reaching up to 3% of global revenue or 10 million Canadian dollars.

Canada has introduced a new digital safety bill aimed at strengthening protections for children online, including a proposal that could ban those under the age of 16 from having social media accounts. The legislation, introduced in parliament on Wednesday, is part of a broader effort by the government to address concerns about the impact of digital platforms on young people’s mental health and safety.
Under the proposed law, social media companies would be prohibited from allowing children under 16 to create accounts unless they meet strict safety requirements. Platforms that can demonstrate compliance with approved safety standards may be granted exemptions, although the detailed criteria for these exemptions are yet to be released by the government.
The bill outlines seven major categories of harmful content that platforms would be required to actively prevent or remove. These include content that sexually exploits or revictimises children, material that encourages self-harm, content used to bully or harass minors, material that incites violence, content that promotes hatred, terrorism or violent extremist activity, and the sharing of non-consensual intimate images. The aim, according to officials, is to reduce exposure of children to online environments that can cause psychological harm or facilitate exploitation.
In addition to regulating social media platforms, the legislation also extends oversight to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence chatbots. Companies operating AI systems would be required to implement child-focused safeguards and risk mitigation measures to prevent harmful interactions and protect minors from inappropriate or unsafe content.
To enforce the new rules, the bill proposes the creation of a Digital Safety Commission of Canada. This independent regulator would be responsible for monitoring compliance, setting detailed safety standards, investigating violations, and ensuring that technology companies adhere to the requirements of the law. Once the legislation is passed, government officials estimate that it could take up to 18 months to fully establish and operationalise the commission.
The penalties for non-compliance are significant. Companies that fail to meet the required standards could face fines of up to 3% of their global annual revenue or 10 million Canadian dollars, whichever is higher, reflecting the government’s intention to ensure strong enforcement and accountability from large technology firms.
Canadian officials say the bill is driven by growing concerns about the impact of social media and digital platforms on children. Culture Minister Marc Miller said the government believes that current protections are insufficient, stressing that children are increasingly exposed to harmful content and addictive platform designs.
He argued that social media platforms and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention in ways that may not support healthy childhood development, and have been linked to issues such as anxiety, isolation, depression and other mental health challenges among young users. According to Miller, the legislation is intended to create a safer digital environment, reduce harmful exposure, and encourage children to develop stronger real-world social connections, improve academic focus, and build healthier developmental habits.
The bill comes amid a wider international trend of governments tightening rules around children’s access to social media. Australia, for example, recently became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media use for children under 16, setting a precedent that Canada’s proposal appears to follow in part.
It also follows growing scrutiny of technology companies over their role in online harms, particularly after reports and legal actions in several countries have raised concerns about the influence of social media platforms and AI systems on vulnerable users.