Marino

Context: a renewed Canadian debate, with a global backdrop

In early March 2026, Canada’s discussion about online harms and child exploitation re-ignited after Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada should have an open debate about a possible social media ban for children as part of upcoming online harms legislation. Carney did not commit to a ban, saying there are arguments on both sides, but argued Canada is “lagging” on legislation related to online harms and the exploitation of children. Reporting also noted that earlier online harms legislation intr

This Canadian debate is happening while multiple countries consider (or implement) age limits for social media. Commentary and policy tracking highlight the central trade-off: supporters frame age limits as child-safety protections, while critics warn that bans can be technically porous, may push teens toward less-regulated corners of the internet, and often rely on intrusive age-assurance systems that create privacy and surveillance risks.

Direction: Should Canada pursue a child social media ban, an “age of majority” threshold, or a non-ban approach within an Online Harms Bill?

Package: If Ottawa brings back online harms legislation, which child-safety obligations on platforms should be emphasized publicly?

Privacy line: How much age verification should be acceptable, given concerns that strict age-gating can drive data collection and surveillance?

This proposal is designed to “ride the news” responsibly: the vote options and the pro/cons are limited to what is described in the sources below. Use comments to add additional reporting, explain enforceability concerns, and propose safeguards—always citing sources.

Public proposals about age verification

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Public proposals tagged age verification

Canada online harms bill: should Ottawa ban social media for kids?