The federal government plans to propose a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16 as part of its highly anticipated online harms bill that will be introduced Wednesday, Global News has learned.
A government source confirmed the plans Monday ahead of the bill’s formal introduction. The source requested anonymity to publicly discuss the bill.
Culture Minister Marc Miller told reporters he couldn’t comment on the contents of the bill before he tables it in the House of Commons.
The Globe and Mail first reported on the forthcoming online harms bill earlier Monday.
The proposed social media ban for youth under 16 would follow action first taken in Australia, where the measure took effect last December.
Other countries including the United Kingdom, Spain and South Korea are considering their own youth social media bans. Malaysia enacted its own ban on social media accounts for users under 16 last week, while Brazil now requires youth accounts to be linked to those of a legal guardian to ensure supervision.
French legislation that would put the social media age limit at 15 was approved by the National Assembly in January and is approaching a final vote, with officials aiming to have it in place for the start of the school year in September.
The idea gained further traction in Canada after Liberal Party members adopted a motion to pursue the policy at their annual convention in April.
That move, and the release of polling suggesting broad Canadian support, prompted Miller to say the government was “very seriously” considering a youth social media ban.
In April, Manitoba became the first province to announce it would move to enact a social media ban for kids. Other provinces, including Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick, have said they are considering doing the same.
Advocates say such a ban is necessary measure to reign in social media companies who have resisted regulation, and that it could be one tool among many to combat growing evidence of health impacts from screen use and social media among children.
“I feel it’s a common sense approach because the science is absolutely clear on the impact to young people,” said Shimi Kang, a clinical associate professor in psychiatry and mental health at the University of British Columbia and the co-founder and CEO of Future Ready Minds.