Canada has introduced the Safe Social Media Act, a proposed law that would ban children and teenagers under 16 from using social media, echoing a similar measure Australia passed late last year. Unlike Australia’s blanket restriction, the Canadian proposal would allow tech companies to avoid the ban if they can prove they have effective policies to minimise harm to minors.
The bill also includes broad rules targeting AI chatbots and other “harmful content” online, and would establish a new regulator to enforce compliance. While parents and child-safety advocates have welcomed stronger protections, free-speech groups warn the legislation could expand censorship. The proposal, tabled in the House of Commons by Culture Minister Marc Miller, arrives as other countries — including the UK — consider similar steps and ahead of the G7 summit in France, where leaders are expected to discuss AI and child online safety.
