Canada Proposes Teen Social Media Ban Ahead of G7 Summit

In a bid to protect children from online harm, the Canadian government has introduced the Safe Social Media Act, a bill that would prohibit any person under the age of 16 from creating new social media accounts. The legislation mirrors Australia’s earlier law but introduces an exemption mechanism that could allow platforms that meet defined safeguards to remain accessible to teens.

Culture Minister Marc Miller unveiled the bill in the House of Commons early June, stating that the safety of children is a priority and highlighting the tragic February mass shooting in British Columbia that involved an 18‑year‑old suspect who used ChatGPT prior to the attack. The proposed law therefore also targets AI chatbots, mandating crisis‑intervention protocols and warning labels for content that encourages self‑harm or violence.

At the heart of the bill is a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. The commission, appointed by cabinet, will develop the standards for the exemption process and enforce compliance. A passing margin to immunity is set to be awarded only after the commission is fully operational, a development that is expected to take 18 months. The maximum penalty for non‑compliance is the greater of 10 million dollars or 3 percent of a company’s global revenue.

The Canadian measure follows the example of several other countries, including the UK’s Online Safety Act, France’s legislation, and Australia’s 2025 law that banned children under 16 from social media. In Australia, 4.7 million teenage accounts have been deactivated since the ban took effect, though enforcement remains a challenge. The exemption allowance in Canada is intended to address that issue by incentivising platforms to demonstrate robust protective measures.

Social media firms have expressed a range of concerns. Meta, for instance, argues that age verification is best handled by app stores rather than platform‑level restrictions. It has emphasised the importance of age‑appropriate design features such as limited contact with strangers for child accounts and content moderation that prioritises user safety. TikTok and other major players have highlighted existing child and teen controls, but they are prepared to work with regulators to meet Canada’s new criteria.

Proponents of the bill point to a growing global trend to impose age restrictions and tighter oversight of online platforms. A United Nations study cited by supporters emphasises the prevalence of harmful content – including bullying, hate speech, and non‑consensual intimate imagery – that disproportionately targets minors. The Canadian law would cover seven categories of harmful content, ranging from bullying and hate incitement to non‑consensual deepfakes.

The debate will carry over into next week’s G7 summit in France, where leaders are expected to issue statements on AI regulation and child safety. The bill’s passage would position Canada as a leader in the international effort to safeguard youth on digital platforms.

With elections looming and public pressure mounting, the deadline to enact the law is tight. If passed, Canada would enforce a ban that will restrict all major platforms – Facebook, Instagram, X, SnapChat, and others – from allowing users under 16 to create new accounts until a platform proves it meets the regulator’s safety standards.

As the legislation moves through Parliament, industry stakeholders, parents, civil society groups, and privacy advocates will continue to weigh in on the balance between protecting children and preserving freedom of expression. The outcome could shape not only Canada’s domestic policy, but also influence global regulatory discussions on digital safety for the next decade.