Canada is preparing to join a growing list of countries moving to restrict social media access for minors, with the federal government expected to introduce legislation in the coming days that would prohibit many children under the age of 16 from using major online platforms.

The proposed measure, which is expected to be presented in the House of Commons this week, would place Canada among a number of nations tightening regulations on youth access to social media amid mounting concerns over mental health, online safety, and harmful digital content.

According to a government official who spoke anonymously to the National Post, the Canadian approach is expected to be somewhat more flexible than the model adopted by Australia, which has emerged as a leading advocate of strict age-based social media restrictions.

The official said the legislation will “include provisions that allow platforms to seek exemptions should they demonstrate an ability to keep the youngest Canadians safe while using their products online.”

Unlike some recent proposals aimed at emerging technologies, the forthcoming legislation is not expected to impose a similar prohibition on artificial intelligence chatbots.

“The legislation is not expected to include the same type of ban for AI chatbots, but will establish a set of responsibilities platforms need to meet,” the National Post added.

Reports indicate that the bill would also establish the framework for a new oversight body tasked with enforcing the restrictions and addressing various forms of harmful online content.

When asked Tuesday about the proposal, Culture Minister Marc Miller declined to discuss specific details but confirmed that stronger online regulations remain under serious consideration by the government.

“It’s clear that a ban or a moratorium on social media by kids, who we do need to protect. It can be an important element, but it can’t be the only one,” he said.

Miller acknowledged that age-based social media restrictions have gained significant public support in many countries. However, he cautioned that Australia’s experience has shown mixed results, with many young users finding ways to circumvent verification systems designed to enforce the ban.

According to Miller, such restrictions appear to be “perhaps 50 percent or more effective.”

Similar concerns were raised by Kaitlynn Mendes, a professor at Western University, who argued that policymakers should focus more heavily on changing how social media platforms operate rather than relying primarily on enforcement efforts directed at young users.

She suggested that governments should encourage companies to “change their design,” rather than assigning regulators to “regulate and monitor young people, and try to chase them off these platforms, which we know doesn’t work.”

Mendes also advocated for increased corporate transparency and greater scrutiny of platform features that may expose children to harmful material or encourage unhealthy behavior patterns, including functions such as automatic video playback.

Canada previously attempted to address online safety concerns for minors in early 2025 during the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. That legislation stopped short of banning social media access for children and instead required technology companies to implement safety measures and regularly report their progress to government officials.

The proposal ultimately failed to advance through Parliament before the legislative session ended.

Since then, two developments have significantly altered the debate. The first was Australia’s decision to begin enforcing its social media restrictions in December 2025, followed by a number of other countries announcing similar policies throughout 2026.

The second was growing concern over online content and artificial intelligence following a mass shooting in British Columbia in February carried out by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.

Relatives of the eight victims later accused OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of failing to implement adequate safeguards within ChatGPT to prevent dangerous interactions with troubled users.

Reports indicated that ChatGPT’s safety team identified Van Rootselaar’s fixation on violence and murder and eventually terminated his account. However, he reportedly created a new account and continued using the chatbot while planning the attack.

The issue has fueled renewed calls for stricter oversight of digital platforms throughout Canada.

Last week, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced support for restrictions targeting both social media platforms and AI chatbots for younger users.

“These are highly addictive tools that are monetizing the attention of our children and causing mental health harms in the process,” he said.

Similar concerns have been voiced in Ontario. In April, Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra suggested that provincial officials should consider additional limits on cellphone and social media use within schools.

“I think the evidence is becoming more and more clear that cellphone use in our schools, elementary and our secondary schools, anywhere on site, has become a problem,” he said.

Momentum for a nationwide policy increased further in April when Canada’s governing Liberal Party approved a non-binding resolution supporting a countrywide ban on social media access for children under 16.

The proposal, however, generated opposition from some younger delegates attending the party’s convention, who complained that they were not given an adequate opportunity to voice concerns about the measure.

Among the objections raised were worries about personal privacy, data collection, and the possibility that age-verification systems could expose sensitive information to security breaches.

{Matzav.com}