Katie Bartel has seen too much to let her three teen daughters navigate the digital world alone, but she admits it is hard to keep up with how they use technology. The Chilliwack mom sometimes checks her girls' phones for harmful content and interactions, and she does not allow them to have devices in their bedrooms at night. However, an emphasis on open communication has helped the most. It allows her to address the slurs she has seen in the public chat inside the game Roblox, discuss body image issues related to YouTube, and intervene when a stranger started messaging her daughter.
"It sometimes feels overwhelming," she said. "In keeping them socially connected, are we giving up some of their safety?"
Federal Government Introduces Safe Social Media Act
As the federal government moves to restrict social media access for Canadian kids, Bartel welcomes some backup. But along with experts and educators, she said she does not expect the changes to remove all risk. Last week, Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller introduced the two-part Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34), which lays out new requirements for social media services and AI chatbots. The plan includes a proposal to block kids under 16 from social media platforms, with potential exemptions if companies can prove they have "adequate safeguards" in place. It is unclear what those safeguards might look like and what changes companies must make to satisfy them. However, Miller outlined seven types of harmful content the government wants addressed, including content that sexually victimizes a child or re-victimizes a survivor, content that encourages a child to harm themselves, content designed to promote hatred or explicitly encourages violent acts, terrorism or violent extremism, as well as cyberbullying and intimate images shared without consent.
Digital Safety Commission on the Horizon
A digital safety commission is expected to be operational about 18 months after the legislation becomes law. Alan Mackworth, professor emeritus in the computer science department at the University of B.C., noted that Miller used the phrase "safe by design" several times. This represents a key shift from the way Canada has dealt with the risks associated with digital technology — from a problem that parents must address to putting more responsibility on companies to make their platforms safer. "It is a very vital step, but it is also very late," said Mackworth.
Global Context of Social Media Restrictions
Canada is not alone in seeking ways to protect kids online. Australia has had a social media ban for kids under 16 since December, while the U.K. announced plans for a similar ban on Monday. About 20 other countries are either considering or have passed social media age restrictions, while six have implemented them, according to Tech Policy Press, a non-profit media outlet tracking restrictions. "Different countries have different views toward regulation," said Mackworth. "They must contend with the lobbying power of big tech, which has been a significant block in the U.S. and Canada for quite some time. But the groundswell is there, the public support is there, and I think that is why you are seeing the government moving in this direction."
Parents Remain Vigilant
Bartel said digital technology helps her daughters stay socially connected and do school work, but she does not allow them access to some apps until they turn 16. Monitoring it all is "a lot of work." She noted that a social media ban is unlikely to reduce the need for parents to be vigilant about online harms, and experts say we should not view any one measure as a "silver bullet."
