The feds are drafting a plan that could change the digital landscape for Canadian families. According to sources speaking to The Globe and Mail, the government is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 14. This move is part of the upcoming online harms bill, which aims to add much-needed guardrails to the internet.
The proposal comes as Canada looks to Australia, which recently launched a strict ban for those under 16. While Canada currently has a limit for children under 13, many young users simply bypass the rules by entering fake birth dates. Sources told The Globe that ministers could review this new age limit as early as next month, though it still needs formal cabinet approval.
Inside the Push for a New Regulator
Insiders have shared that there is an active debate behind the scenes about how to actually enforce such a ban. Two sources mentioned that civil servants are discussing whether a brand-new regulator is needed to police big tech companies.
Some experts have warned that if a child is blocked until they are 14, they might eventually jump right into a toxic environment if the platforms themselves are not fixed. Without a regulator to issue fines and force companies to change their algorithms, many fear the ban will be nothing more than a temporary delay.
Tech Giants Clash Over Age Checks
The potential law has already sparked a fight between the world’s biggest tech companies. Meta, the owner of Instagram, is pushing the government to put the responsibility on app stores. They want age verification to happen when a user first sets up their phone.
However, Google has pushed back hard. A senior director at Google accused Meta of trying to shift the blame away from their own apps. They argued that putting the burden on app stores would create privacy risks for families while letting social media platforms off the hook.
Beyond the Ban: Protecting Teens from Ads
Ottawa’s plan reportedly goes beyond just blocking younger kids. Sources also indicated that AI Minister Evan Solomon is working on separate privacy laws. These rules would shield anyone under 18 from targeted marketing and aggressive data collection.
The push for these changes follows alarming data from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Recent reports show a sharp rise in online violence targeting girls, including coercive tactics used to harm teenagers. The new bill is expected to be introduced in the coming months with a focus on making the digital world a safer place for the next generation.
What do you think? Should social media be banned in Canada for kids under 14? We should really teach kids the dangers and limitations of social media networks. Nothing is actually real and authentic anymore, as people are just busy chasing views.
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just let parents monitor, then we know who are bad parents. kids are smart anyways, they use ai and are tech wizards, they will get past it. dont put anymore money into things we can change ourself. save our money for Ukraine… (sarcasm)
You are a doll! 👌
What else have they added to this Bill? Censorship is a slippery slope and something Canadians need to be aware of as this government would love to control speech and its narrative.
there is not reason for kids to be on social medias
Can we ban the government while we are at it? They seem to be at the centre of all things bad.
I do not understand why people don't just filter this stuff. It's not that hard to block a website just look up a dns that dose.