The Canadian government has introduced a bill in Parliament that could ban children under 16 from having social media accounts unless companies can prove they can keep their platforms safe.
The legislation covers seven types of harmful content, including content that encourages children to self-harm, content that incites violence and hatred, and intimate images shared without consent.
A digital safety commission will be established. Criteria for determining exemptions will be announced later. Canadian platforms that offer adult content will not be eligible for the exemption.
The legislation would also regulate companies that develop AI-powered chatbots, requiring them to act responsibly through measures such as crisis response protocols.
In Australia, social media companies have blocked access to an estimated 4.7 million accounts belonging to children, officials said, after the country banned the platforms from being used by anyone under 16. The law has sparked intense debate in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health, and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures. A Canadian government spokesman told reporters at a briefing that authorities would seek to learn from Australia’s experience.
Leanne McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Center for Child Protection, welcomed the move, noting that cases of blackmail using intimate photos on social media have increased dramatically.