Canada Introduces Digital Safety Bill to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16

The Canadian government has introduced a new Digital Safety Bill that proposes banning social media access for children under the age of 16, along with stricter regulations for AI chatbots. The bill also plans to establish a digital regulator responsible for setting safety standards across online platforms and AI systems.

Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 3% of global revenue or C$10 million, whichever is higher. Officials said the move aims to protect young users from mental health risks such as anxiety, isolation, and depression linked to excessive social media use. The bill follows global trends, including Australia’s earlier social media restrictions for minors, and is expected to take time before becoming law.