Federal government moves to restrict social media for kids under 16
Bill C-34 would block users under 16 unless platforms prove they have adequate safeguards. B.C. parents cautiously support the move but experts say enforcement will be complex.
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The federal government has tabled Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, which would restrict social media access for children under 16 unless platforms can prove they've implemented adequate safeguards to protect them.
Last week, Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller introduced the two-part bill, which sets new requirements for social media services and AI chatbots. The government wants platforms to address seven types of harmful content: material that sexually victimizes children or re-victimizes survivors, content encouraging self-harm, material promoting hatred or violent extremism, terrorism content, cyberbullying, intimate images shared without consent, and content targeting Indigenous peoples.
A digital safety commission is expected to begin operations about 18 months after the legislation becomes law.
B.C. parents and experts say the step is needed but won't solve all problems. Katie Bartel, a Chilliwack mom of three teens, welcomes the government backup but notes that open communication with her daughters has been more effective than monitoring alone. "It sometimes feels overwhelming," she said. "In keeping them socially connected, are we giving up some of their safety?"
Lloyd Richardson, director of technology with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said the bill is "a step we need to take," though it has gaps. The centre received 30,000 reports related to online sexual exploitation of children last year through its national tip line, Cybertip.ca.
Alan Mackworth, professor emeritus in computer science at UBC, called the bill "a very vital step, but also very late." He noted that about 20 other countries are either considering or have passed social media age restrictions, with six having implemented them.
Experts cautioned that the bill will face technical challenges—verifying age without invading privacy, addressing smaller platforms and gaming, and enforcement issues. Amori Mikami, a UBC psychology professor, said teens will likely find ways around bans. "Unless you force platforms to change their entire algorithm, I'm not sure how much will change," she said.
The B.C. government has been calling for federal legislation since the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge in February, where the shooter's ChatGPT account was flagged and banned by OpenAI but not reported to police.