Canada proposes new rules for children’s social media use

Canada has introduced a new bill aimed at reducing children’s exposure to harmful social media content and adding safety rules for online platforms and AI chatbots. The Safe Social Media Act, tabled by Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, would also create a new Digital Safety Commission to set standards and handle complaints. If passed, the law would require platforms to restrict accounts for users under 16 through ageverification or ageestimation tools. The bill also leaves room for platforms to regain access for young users if they can show they meet approved safety requirements. Experts say the proposal goes beyond simple age bans by focusing on safer design, privacy, and specific harms such as bullying, selfharm content, hate speech, extremist material, and nonconsensual intimate images. The bill still needs to pass Parliament, and many details on enforcement and standards have yet to be set.