Canada Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16 Users

Canada’s federal government announced plans on 8 June 2026 to introduce legislation that includes a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age. The proposal is part of a wider online harms bill that is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons on 10 June 2026.

Proposed Federal Legislation in Canada

The planned bill is linked to the federal online harms framework in Canada. The legislation is expected to set age-based restrictions for social media platforms and to create legal duties for online services operating in the country. Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller stated in April 2026 that the federal government was considering a social media ban for minors.

Exemptions and Platform Responsibilities

The proposed law will allow social media platforms to seek exemptions if they can show that they can protect young users online. The bill is also expected to assign responsibilities to platforms that use artificial intelligence tools, including possible transparency requirements on reporting threats to police.

Provincial Measures and Public Opinion

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced in April 2026 that Manitoba would move to enact a social media ban for children under 16. Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick have also considered similar measures, and an Angus Reid Poll in March 2026 found that 75% of Canadians supported a full ban for those under 16.

Important Facts for Exams

• Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy, and the House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament.
• Australia introduced a social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025.
• An Angus Reid Poll is a Canadian public opinion survey used in political and social research.
• Artificial intelligence chatbots are software systems that generate responses using machine learning models.

International Comparison

Australia’s under-16 social media restriction came into force in December 2025. Reports on the Australian model have noted that some children have found ways to bypass age restrictions on digital platforms.