Canada Moves Closer to Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
Canada has become the latest country to propose banning children under 16 from having social media accounts. The Canadian government introduced a new safety bill on Wednesday that could steeply penalize social media giants like Facebook and Instagram for failing to comply.
If passed, the bill would allow some social media platforms to be exempt from the age ban if they can demonstrate proper safeguards to protect young users.
“The safety of children cannot be an afterthought,” Marc Miller, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, said in a statement. “This legislation will introduce stronger responsibilities for online platforms to ensure their services are safe by design and include appropriate measures to keep children safe.”
The move comes as scrutiny of social media’s impact on children has risen in recent years. Australia became the first nation in the world to ban children under 16 from social media in December 2025. Nearly 5 million accounts were deactivated as a result. Some European nations are considering similar bans.
Social Media Lawsuits Claim Platforms Are Intentionally Addictive
While such a ban is not currently under consideration in the United States, the battle over social media’s impact on children is playing out in the courtroom.
The companies behind popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are facing thousands of social media lawsuits claiming that their apps were designed to be intentionally addictive, fueling a mental health crisis in children.
In March, Meta and Google were ordered to pay a combined $6 million to a woman who began using their apps at a young age and went on to develop anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia. Snapchat and TikTok were also set to be a part of that trial, but agreed to confidential settlements with the woman before it began.
Earlier this week, Meta and Google’s motion for a new trial in that case was denied.
The social media giants are also facing similar lawsuits from school districts around the country that claim digital platforms have created a youth mental health crisis.
A group of companies agreed to a $27 million settlement in the first of those cases that was set for trial, involving a small Kentucky school district.