Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act, introduced on June 10, 2026, would prohibit children under 16 from holding social media accounts unless platforms meet safety standards set by a new regulator. The legislation also targets AI chatbots, requiring safeguards for young users. If passed, Canada would join a small group of countries enacting such bans, including Australia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom.
Key Provisions of Bill C-34
The Liberal government's Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, aims to address growing concerns about online harms, including child sexual abuse material, terrorism promotion, eating disorder content, and suicide encouragement. Platforms may seek exemptions if they demonstrate appropriate safeguards. The bill also mandates a duty for platforms to act responsibly, assess risks, label synthetic content, and provide user flagging tools.
Critics Raise Privacy and Enforcement Concerns
University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist, Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law, supports the duty-to-act-responsibly framework but warns about age verification. "Since there is no way to keep people under 16 off a platform without determining the age of everyone who uses it, tens of millions of Canadians who are not the target of the policy would be required to prove their age, typically to foreign third-party verification services," Geist wrote. He also noted that exemption parameters may not be ready when the law takes effect, leaving privacy safeguards sidelined.
Australia's Experience: Mixed Results
Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 took effect in December 2025, requiring platforms to prevent under-16s from holding accounts on services like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. E-safety commissioner Julie Inman Grant said, "Since December, we've been monitoring how platforms have responded... We're assessing what they've done and where they're falling short." However, a March 2026 study by the Molly Rose Foundation found that 61% of Australian children aged 12-15 who previously held accounts still accessed restricted sites, with 70% saying it was "easy" to circumvent the ban. The foundation stated, "Most children who were still using restricted platforms had not needed to find workarounds — this is because platforms had failed to identify and remove their accounts in the first place."
Indonesia's Blanket Ban
In March 2026, Indonesia implemented a blanket ban on social media for all children under 16, deactivating accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. Communications Minister Meutya Hafid cited a "digital emergency" from harmful content and online addiction. Amnesty International Indonesia's executive director Usman Hamid criticized the move: "This blanket ban on social media will deprive tens of millions of young people in Indonesia of vital channels for communicating with others, accessing information, developing creativity and expressing themselves."
United Kingdom's Upcoming Legislation
In mid-June 2026, outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced legislation to ban children under 16 from social media, following a national consultation. "Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever," Starmer said. "Tech giants had their chance and failed, but we're stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations." The U.K. will also restrict AI chatbots designed as "romantic companions" to users 18 and older. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added, "My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver."
Impact and Ongoing Debate
The Tumbler Ridge, B.C., school shooting in February 2026, where 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootselaar killed nine people, highlighted AI risks. OpenAI later revealed it had banned Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT account in June 2025 for queries involving gun violence but did not alert authorities. As Canada moves forward with Bill C-34, the effectiveness of age verification, privacy protections, and enforcement remain key issues, with lessons from Australia and Indonesia shaping the debate.
