Canada bans social media for under-16s and tightens AI chatbot rules

At a glance:

• Children under 16 will be prohibited from holding a social‑media account in Canada.
• The Safe Social Media Act adds safety duties for AI chatbot services, despite no age‑gate.
• A new Digital Safety Commission will set detailed rules and can grant platform exemptions.

What the bill does

The Safe Social Media Act, introduced by Minister Marc Miller, bans anyone younger than 16 from creating or maintaining a social‑media account. The legislation mirrors moves by Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, marking a coordinated push to protect minors online. Platforms will be required to redesign their products with child safety in mind, including removing deepfakes and any content that “sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor.”

Beyond outright bans, the bill mandates practical safeguards: clear labels for AI‑generated content, robust reporting mechanisms for harmful material, and user‑blocking tools to limit exposure. These measures aim to create a safer digital environment while still allowing adults to use the services.

AI chatbot provisions

While the age restriction applies to social media, AI chatbot services are not subject to the same gate. Miller emphasized that “chatbots are not as well‑studied as the harm caused by social media platforms” and lack a comparable social role. Nonetheless, the act inserts specific language targeting AI chatbots, a response partly sparked by OpenAI’s handling of the Tumbler Ridge shooting incident.

Under the new rules, AI platforms must mitigate the risk of chatbots delivering harmful content or engaging in dangerous behavior. They are also required to implement “emergency measures” for crisis situations, ensuring rapid response when a chatbot’s output could exacerbate a real‑world emergency. This dual approach seeks to balance innovation with public safety.

Enforcement and the Digital Safety Commission

The detailed obligations beyond the age limit will be defined by the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, a body created under a separate Digital Safety Commission of Canada Act. The commission will both enforce the regulations and have the authority to grant exemptions to platforms that can demonstrate “sufficient safeguards” for children.

The commission’s role introduces a flexible, case‑by‑case oversight model, allowing platforms to argue for tailored compliance pathways. This could lead to a patchwork of standards, but it also offers a mechanism for rapid adaptation as new digital threats emerge. Stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the commission balances strict enforcement with industry innovation.