Canada Proposes Ban on Social Media for Children Under 16

Canada introduced a bill on Wednesday to ban social media use for children under 16, with exceptions only for platforms meeting strict safety criteria. The legislation also aims to regulate AI chatbots by establishing a digital regulatory authority to oversee compliance. Companies that fail to comply face fines of 3% of global revenue or 7.2 million Canadian dollars, whichever is greater. The bill was announced by Minister of Identity and Culture Mark Miller, who stated that platforms and AI chatbots are designed to be addictive. The move is part of a broader global trend toward stricter online safety regulations for minors. The bill now moves to parliamentary debate, where it may face amendments.

Global Impact

Economically, the bill imposes significant compliance costs on major tech firms, potentially reducing their Canadian revenue by restricting under-16 user access. Politically, it strengthens Canada's position as a leader in digital regulation, likely inspiring similar bills in other Commonwealth nations and the EU.