The Canadian government has submitted a 'Safe Social Media Bill' that would ban social media use by those under 16 and establish safety standards for AI chatbots.
On June 10, 2026, local time, Mark Miller, Canada's Minister of Identity, Culture and Official Languages, introduced the ' Safe Social Media Bill ' (Bill C-34). The Safe Social Media Bill mandates that organizations take responsibility for addressing risks before harm occurs caused by social media and AI chatbots.
Government of Canada introduces legislation to make social media services and AI chatbots safer for children - Canada.ca
Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act - Canada.ca
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/safe-social-media-act.html
Ottawa moves to restrict social media for kids under 16 | CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-harms-ai-social-media-children-9.7229976
Canada Just Tabled a Social Media Ban for Kids Under 16. Here's What Happens Next | iPhone in Canada
https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2026/06/10/canada-social-media-ban-kids-under-16-bill-c34/
Canada introduces legislation to ban social media for children under 16, regulate AI chatbots | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/canada-introduces-legislation-ban-social-media-children-under-16-2026-06-10/
Canada Announces Bill Banning Social Media For Anyone Under 16
https://www.engadget.com/2191879/canada-announces-bill-banning-social-media-for-anyone-under-16/
Canada moves to ban social media accounts children under 16 | AP News
https://apnews.com/article/canada-social-media-ban-16-kids-292444c9dd8773aeb4119aaa9eae5990
Ottawa introduces bill to ban social media for kids under 16 | BetaKit
https://betakit.com/ottawa-introduces-bill-to-ban-social-media-for-kids-under-16/
Miller's 'Secure Social Media Bill' (Bill C-34) aims to increase accountability and transparency for online services by mandating the introduction of new security requirements for social media and AI chatbots.
The Safe Social Media Act includes restrictions prohibiting children under 16 from having accounts on social media services, but exceptions can be applied for if the social media company can demonstrate that it has sufficient safety measures in place for children.
The Safe Social Media Act mandates that child safety be the top priority in the design of products and features, and that measures be taken to reduce children's exposure to certain content and high-risk interactions. Services subject to regulation will also be required to identify, mitigate, and address risks on their platforms.
A safe social media bill works through the following three obligations:
Child protection obligations
An obligation that applies to all services regulated by the Secure Social Media Act.
Social media, including live streaming and user-uploaded adult content services, will be subject to the following two additional obligations:
• Duty to act responsibly
Service providers are required to assess and mitigate the risks associated with exposure to harmful content in seven categories, label artificially generated and modified content, and provide clear and accessible ways for users to report harmful content and block other users.
- Obligation to block access to specific content
We demand the swift removal of intimate content transmitted without consent, including content that sexually abuses children, content that perpetrates victimization, and
AI chatbots are also subject to the 'duty of responsible conduct.' Furthermore, AI chatbots are required to do the following:
- Reduce the risk of AI chatbots sending harmful content.
- Ensure transparency regarding reporting criteria in critical situations, such as when a user attempts to harm themselves or others.
- Reduce the risk of AI chatbots engaging in harmful behavior.
In addition, the Safe Social Media Bill also includes provisions for 'enforcement of regulations,' 'ensuring compliance,' 'creating safer online services for children,' and 'establishing an independent digital safety commission to support people who have suffered harm online.'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on his X account, 'Today, the Canadian government introduced new legislation to protect children online. 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. More and more children are suffering from anxiety, depression, self-harm, and exploitation. To keep children safe, we must ensure that the law keeps pace with technological advancements.'
Today, our government introduced new legislation to protect our kids online. 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.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 10, 2026
More and more kids are suffering from…
Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, posted: “Children have the right to be safe online. Today we have introduced the Safe Social Media Act to hold online services accountable, strengthen protection for children, and incorporate safety measures from the very beginning of platform design. This is an important step towards a safer online world for Canadians.”
Children have the right to be safe online.
— Evan Solomon (@EvanLSolomon) June 10, 2026
Today, we introduced the Safe Social Media Act to hold online services accountable, strengthen protections for children, and make safety part of how platforms are designed from the start.
This is an important step toward a safer online… pic.twitter.com/WVQKpMIZnw
In response, Michael Geist, who chairs the research committee on Internet and e-commerce law at the University of Ottawa in Canada, offered the following criticism:
'The government is taking a 'anything goes' approach, cramming everything into a 'safe social media bill,' leaving many important details to future regulations, many of which will be decided by a commission that doesn't even exist yet. This will take years.'
Here's my initial post on Digital Safety bill: gov't taking a kitchen sink approach by throwing everything into Bill C-34 and leaving many key details to future regulations, many to be decided by a Commission that doesn't exist yet. This will take years. https://t.co/OR1j9K9msg
— Michael Geist (@mgeist) June 10, 2026
Furthermore, the commentator stated, 'I understand that Mr. Miller said that the 'restriction prohibiting children under 16 from having accounts on social media services' would take effect upon royal approval. However, according to the bill, implementation requires a cabinet order, and no services will be regulated until rules are in place to define the criteria for the services covered. Moreover, the obligation will only apply to services designated later by the cabinet.'
I'm told Minister Miller said the under-16 ban takes effect on royal assent. The bill says otherwise: nothing operates without a cabinet order (s.130), no service is covered until threshold regulations exist (s.6), and the duty applies only to services cabinet later names (s.27)
— Michael Geist (@mgeist) June 10, 2026
'The amount of uncertainty and undecided elements in the 'Safe Social Media Bill' is astonishing. Too much is being left to the Cabinet and the future Digital Safety Commission. Teenagers today are worried about losing access to social media, but they don't need to worry so much. This will take years to implement.'
The amount of uncertainty and to-be-determined aspects of Bill C-34 are astonishing. So much left to cabinet and future Digital Safety Commission. Teenagers today concerned about losing access to social media don't have too much to worry about. This will take years to implement.
— Michael Geist (@mgeist) June 10, 2026
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