Canada Introduces Bill to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16, With Exemptions for Safe Platforms

<p>Canada's government introduced the Safe Social Media Act, known as Bill C-34, to Parliament on June 10, 2026. The legislation proposes banning social media access for children under 16, with an exemption for platforms that can prove they have implemented sufficient safety measures.</p>

<p>Culture Minister Marc Miller introduced the bill to the House of Commons. The government plans to create a new independent regulator, the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, to set the criteria for exemptions and oversee compliance.</p>

<p>The bill targets seven categories of harmful content, including material that promotes self-harm, incites violence, or foments hatred. It also imposes new requirements on AI chatbot developers, requiring crisis intervention protocols and other safety measures. Platforms must remove non-consensual intimate imagery within 24 hours of it being flagged.</p>

<p>Penalties for non-compliance could reach 3 percent of global revenue or C$10 million, whichever is greater. Government officials estimate that passing the bill could take approximately one year, with the Digital Safety Commission requiring an additional 18 months to become operational.</p>

<p>The bill follows Australia's December 2025 ban on social media for children under 16. Canadian officials said they studied the Australian experience, where reports suggested many children remained active on social media despite the ban. The Canadian approach differs by offering tech companies an off-ramp if they proactively implement safety policies.</p>

<p>The introduction of the bill came after a February 2026 mass shooting in British Columbia, where the suspect allegedly used AI tools to discuss violence. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection welcomed the legislation. Some free speech groups raised concerns about potential censorship.</p>