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Canada just told Big Tech to keep its hands off the kids. The federal government introduced Bill C-34, officially named the Safe Social Media Act, which would ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms entirely.
The bill, introduced by Culture Minister Marc Miller on June 10, goes further than just age-gating. It also establishes a new regulatory framework for AI chatbots, creating a dedicated digital safety regulator tasked with enforcing compliance across both social media and artificial intelligence.
What the bill actually does
The core prohibition is straightforward: no social media for anyone under 16. Platforms that can demonstrate they’ve implemented adequate safety measures can apply for exemptions, giving companies a pathway to stay accessible to younger users. Adult-content providers are completely barred from seeking exemptions.
Non-compliant companies face fines of up to 3% of their global revenue, or a maximum of $7.2 million.
The new digital safety regulator will be responsible for setting and overseeing compliance standards for both social media platforms and AI chatbots.
Canada isn’t the first country to take this approach. Australia introduced similar age restrictions in late 2024, making this part of a broader global pattern. But Canada’s legislation is notably more expansive in scope, bundling AI regulation into the same package as social media restrictions.
Public support is high, but critics aren’t quiet
According to an Angus Reid poll conducted in March 2026, approximately 75% of Canadians support the under-16 social media ban.
But critics have pushed back. Some argue that blanket bans are a blunt instrument, with concerns that outright prohibition could push kids toward less regulated corners of the internet, or simply incentivize them to lie about their age. Opponents advocate for more nuanced approaches that address specific harms without cutting off access entirely.
The bill still needs to pass through Parliament before becoming law.
What this means for tech companies and investors
The most immediate impact falls on social media platforms with significant Canadian user bases. Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, and others will need to evaluate whether their existing safety infrastructure meets whatever standards the new regulator establishes, or invest in building systems that do.
The revenue-based penalty structure is particularly noteworthy for investors. A flat fine of $7.2 million is rounding error for most major platforms. But 3% of global revenue scales with company size, designed so that no platform is too big to care about compliance.
The AI chatbot provisions add another layer of complexity. Companies operating conversational AI products in Canada will now face regulatory oversight that didn’t exist before.
Australia moved first, Canada is following, and the European Union has been building its own framework through the Digital Services Act.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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