In a major policy move, Canada is advancing legislation to prohibit social media use for youth under 16. The initiative, backed by the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney, places Canada among a growing number of countries — including Australia, which passed similar legislation in 2024 — seeking to shield minors from the harms associated with social media platforms.
The move reflects rising global concern among governments, parents, and health experts about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health, attention, and development. Details of enforcement mechanisms and how the ban would be implemented in practice were not immediately available, but the legislative push signals a significant shift in Canada’s approach to digital regulation.
