Canada stands by proposed youth social media ban after Meta U.S. settlement
Canada's federal government is maintaining its commitment to Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, which proposes a social media ban for users under 16, despite Meta's recent US$18-billion settlement with U.S. states to implement new safeguards for kids. The Canadian bill aims to mandate age-appropriate designs, content warnings, and measures to reduce addictive behaviors on social media platforms.
Why it matters
This legislation could significantly alter how social media platforms operate in Canada, impacting youth access and online safety, and setting a precedent for government regulation of digital spaces globally.
The federal government says it is standing by its proposed legislation that would include a social media ban for users under 16 years old after Meta agreed to implement new rules for kids as part of a nearly US$18-billion settlement with U.S. states this week.
Besides the money, which will be paid out over a decade, Meta has agreed to strengthen its age estimates to keep kids under 13 off its platforms — including Facebook and Instagram — and teens in age-appropriate accounts. It will also enact a hard limit of two hours a day for users under 18, block kids from the apps from midnight to 6 a.m., and hide “like” counts, among other changes.
Meta said the new safeguards will only apply in the U.S., with most in place for 10 years.
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