Canada Moves to Bar Under-16s From Social Media as New Online Safety Law Nears

Canada Moves to Bar Under-16s From Social Media as New Online Safety Law Nears

The government of Canada is preparing to introduce sweeping online safety legislation that would prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, while allowing companies to apply for exemptions if they can prove their services adequately protect young users.

The bill, expected to be unveiled this week by the administration of Mark Carney, forms part of a broader effort to strengthen digital safety rules and increase oversight of online platforms operating in the country.

Officials familiar with the proposal say the legislation will pave the way for the creation of a new regulatory body responsible for monitoring harmful online content and enforcing safety standards.

Social media companies seeking exemption from the age restriction would be required to demonstrate robust safeguards designed to shield minors from online risks.

While the proposed law targets social networking platforms, it is not expected to impose a similar blanket ban on artificial intelligence chatbots.

Instead, AI providers would face a series of obligations aimed at ensuring their products are used responsibly and safely.

The move follows growing concern among child safety advocates, educators and health organizations who argue that young people remain vulnerable to harmful online content, cyberbullying, exploitation and other digital threats.

Experts say the exemption framework could encourage technology companies to redesign products with child safety in mind.

Measures such as limiting addictive features, reducing autoplay functions and increasing transparency around platform algorithms have been suggested as possible solutions.

The legislation also revives efforts that stalled under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A previous online harms bill introduced by his government failed to become law before Parliament was dissolved in 2025.

Supporters of stronger regulation have long argued that Canada lags behind countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, both of which have introduced more comprehensive online safety regimes and regulatory oversight.

The push for tighter digital controls has intensified amid wider debates about artificial intelligence.

Recent concerns over chatbot safety and the responsibilities of technology companies have prompted calls for clearer reporting requirements and stronger protections against online threats.

The upcoming legislation is expected to be tabled before Parliament breaks for the summer, setting the stage for what could become one of Canada’s most significant digital safety reforms in recent years.