Federal Liberals voted in favour of setting 16 as the minimum age for Canadians to access social media accounts, passing a non-binding resolution at their policy convention in Montreal. The grassroots motion also calls for the onus to be placed on social media platforms โ rather than parents or children โ to verify users' ages and enforce the restriction.
The resolution is non-binding, meaning it does not obligate the Liberal government or caucus to introduce legislation, but it signals growing pressure within the party to act on concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health and development. Supporters of the motion argued that children under 16 are particularly vulnerable to the harms associated with prolonged social media use, including anxiety, depression, and exposure to harmful content.
Canada would not be alone in pursuing such restrictions. Australia passed legislation in late 2024 banning children under 16 from social media platforms, placing enforcement responsibilities on the platforms themselves. Several other countries and jurisdictions have debated or enacted similar age-based restrictions in recent years.
Critics of the proposal have raised concerns about enforceability and privacy, noting that robust age verification systems could require platforms to collect sensitive personal data from users. Civil liberties advocates have also questioned whether such bans effectively protect young people or simply push them toward less regulated online spaces. The debate reflects a broader global conversation about how governments should regulate social media to protect minors.
