No social media until 16? Canada introduces landmark child safety bill

Ottawa: The Canadian government has unveiled legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms unless those services meet specific safety standards.

The proposed law, known as the Digital Safety Act, aims to strengthen protections for young users and make online platforms more accountable for harmful content and design practices.

If approved by Parliament, the legislation would place Canada among a growing number of countries introducing stricter controls on children's use of social media.

Government cites risks to children

Announcing the bill, Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller said protecting children online could no longer be treated as an afterthought.

"We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have. The safety of children cannot be an afterthought," Miller said.

He argued that many social media platforms and AI chatbots are designed to maximise user attention and engagement, contributing to anxiety, isolation, depression and other mental health challenges among young people.

"Social media platforms and AI chatbots are designed to capture attention. They do not support healthy childhood development and have become a source of anxiety, isolation, depression and a range of other mental health challenges for many young Canadians," he said.

According to the government, the legislation is intended to create a safer digital environment while encouraging young people to build real-world relationships and focus on education and personal development.

New regulator to oversee AI and online platforms

The bill would establish a digital regulator responsible for setting safety standards for AI chatbots and social media services.

Under the proposed framework, platforms would be required to identify risks of harm, implement safety measures, adopt age-appropriate design features and provide tools that allow users to block or report harmful content.

The government said digital services have failed to keep pace with the growing scale and complexity of online harms, particularly with the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technologies.

Tough penalties for non-compliance

Companies that fail to comply with the proposed rules could face significant financial penalties.

The legislation would allow authorities to impose fines of up to 3 per cent of a company's global revenue or C$10 million, whichever amount is higher.

The bill also seeks to require platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 24 hours of receiving a report, according to local media reports.

Link to recent concerns over AI safety

The introduction of the legislation comes shortly after families affected by one of Canada's worst mass shootings filed a lawsuit against OpenAI.

The lawsuit alleges that the company was aware of troubling conversations involving the alleged shooter after banning the user from ChatGPT but did not alert law enforcement authorities.

The case has intensified public debate in Canada about AI safety, platform accountability and the responsibilities of technology companies.

Part of a global trend

Canada's proposal follows similar moves in several countries seeking to limit children's exposure to social media.

In December 2025, Australia became the first country to enact a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16. Authorities later reported that millions of teenage accounts had been deactivated following implementation of the law.

France, Denmark and Poland are also considering stricter regulations on children's use of social media, while Greece has announced plans to restrict access for users under 15 beginning in 2027.

What happens next?

Canadian officials said the legislation could take up to a year to pass through Parliament.

If approved, establishing the new digital regulator is expected to take an additional 18 months.

The proposal is likely to spark debate over privacy, age verification, freedom of expression and the role of governments in regulating online platforms, while supporters argue stronger safeguards are necessary to protect children in an increasingly digital world.