Canada planning social media ban for children under 16

Canada is planning to propose a ban on social media for children under 16 as part of an online harms bill to be introduced Wednesday. Platforms that meet new safety standards could allow children to opt back in, according to a source familiar with the forthcoming bill. The Globe and Mail is not naming the source as they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the legislation. The long-awaited online harms bill is also expected to require companies to mitigate harmful content. The social media ban for children under 16 mirrors earlier action in Australia that was introduced last year. But research shows that many children have evaded the restrictions and are still accessing social media there. The ban is expected to be welcomed by advocates for families concerned about the potential negative impact of social media on young people. But some experts in internet law and digital safety say bans aren’t the best way to address online harms for youth, and that implementing age verification is difficult and raises privacy concerns.