On Wednesday, Canada's government introduced new legislation aimed at tightening online protections for children by restricting social media access for users under 16 and increasing accountability for technology companies.
Carney Announces New Online Safety Bill
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a post on X, "Today, our government introduced new legislation to protect our kids online," Carney wrote.
He added, "Canada's Safe Social Media Act will hold social media and AI platforms accountable, make them safer, and restrict access to social media for children under 16."
He added that rising rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm and exploitation among youth underscore the need for updated regulations.
"More and more kids are suffering from anxiety, depression, self-harm, and exploitation," Carney said.
He added, "To keep our kids safe, we have to ensure that our laws keep up with technology."
UK, Virginia And Meta Tighten Focus On Teen Social Media Safety
Last month, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was reportedly preparing restrictions on harmful social media platforms for children under 16, alongside measures targeting sexualized images used in sextortion schemes.
Proposed policies included limits on screen time, curfews and restrictions on addictive platform features.
In February, a federal judge in the U.S. temporarily blocked Virginia's law that would have capped social media use for users under 16 at one hour per day without parental approval.
The judge ruled that the measure likely violated constitutional free speech protections.
Last year, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) introduced new safeguards for teens, requiring parental permission for Instagram live streaming and changes to sensitive-content protections.
The company also expanded its Teen Account safety features across Facebook and Messenger in several countries, adding stricter privacy and content controls for younger users.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: bella1105 via Shutterstock
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