Canada is joining a growing list of countries seeking to protect young people from harm online by restricting their access to social media platforms.
The Canadian government on Wednesday introduced a new digital safety proposal that would require users to verify that they are at least 16 to access websites like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. A new regulator called the Digital Safety Commission of Canada would administer the proposed measures, officials said.
Young people would be allowed on online platforms of companies that meet safety standards, to be defined by the regulator, government officials told reporters on Wednesday. The proposal, the Safe Social Media Act, sponsored by Canada’s minister of identity and culture, Marc Miller, would need to be passed by the House of Commons and Senate before becoming law.
“The safety of children can’t be an afterthought,” Mr. Miller said. “We need basic protection in place so every child in this country can be safe on platforms they use every day.”
Over the past year, countries including Britain, Malaysia, France, Greece and Spain have considered similar proposals to address issues among young people like mental health problems, including social media addiction and depression, as well as cyberbullying and distraction in schools.
Australia became the first country to pass such legislation in November 2024, blocking young people from social media apps like TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. Under Australia’s law, tech companies are required to disable the accounts of underage users or risk fines of up to $33 million. In response, platforms deactivated about five million accounts of under-aged users, the government said.
