The federal government is expected to introduce legislation banning social media for Canadians under the age of 16

To be sure, many Canadians are concerned about the impact of social media on young people. However, a blanket social media ban implemented by the government is not the solution. Social media access for youth should remain the domain of parents, not government. Parents are best equipped to determine how their children use social media in alignment with their values and risk tolerance.

Social media restrictions require age verification. This means that all Canadians, not just youths under 16, will have to verify their identities in order to access the affected platforms. This in turn will mean that all Canadians will be forced to surrender their private information to governments and technology companies - often in foreign jurisdictions - in order to use the platforms they use every day for business, leisure, and connection. Once again, Canadians face the problem of privacy-violating digital identity technologies in the name of public safety.

The Justice Centre opposes government internet surveillance and the displacement of parents as the primary decision-makers responsible for protecting young people from online harms.

The federal government is expected to introduce legislation banning social media for Canadians under the age of 16, with exemptions for platforms that meet certain government safety requirements, although those details are not yet known.

To be sure, many Canadians are concerned…

— Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (@JCCFCanada)June 8, 2026