A youth is pictured using his phone as he waits to cross the street in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 8.Rick Rycroft/The Associated Press
Manitoba is aiming to be the first province to ban youth from accessing social media and artificial intelligence chatbots, as the federal government also considers measures to restrict minors from using technologies that could cause harm.
Premier Wab Kinew told the crowd at an annual fundraising gala for the Manitoba New Democratic Party that social media contributes to anxiety and depression among young people, and that tech platforms are “doing very, very awful things” to children.
“Social media and now AI chatbots are being used to hack our children’s attention spans. Now, this is not by accident, this is intentional,” he said on Saturday night, promising to bring in a ban. “These platforms are not neutral. They have been built this way to maximize engagement and to make money for a group of tech oligarchs who do not share our values.”
Mr. Kinew did not provide further details, including which ages would be subject to a ban, how measures would be enforced or a timeline for proposed legislation.
His office declined to comment further on Sunday.
Culture Minister Marc Miller says the government is seriously considering implementing a social media ban for kids, after Liberal Party members passed a non-binding resolution to set 16 as the age of majority for Canadians to be able to use social media accounts.
The Canadian Press
In recent years, parents, educators and academics have warned of the dangers of social-media use, including that these platforms can exacerbate anxiety, depression and loneliness among youth. Cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content are also major concerns.
Some countries have established online regulators to better police tech platforms, while also looking to restrict access for youth. Australia, for example, recently banned those under 16 from using social-media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Many platforms already prohibit accounts for children under 13, but users are able to lie about their ages. Australia’s law shifts responsibility to tech companies to ensure compliance or face financial penalties.
But some experts caution that blanket prohibitions can be circumvented and can prove ineffective, especially without stricter regulations for technology giants.
“A ban lets platforms off the hook on what actually causes harm and doesn’t address the underlying concerns,” said Michael Geist, law professor at the University of Ottawa. “We should be pursuing effective national strategies, not creating the illusion of protection.”
Do Australian-style social media bans have a place in Canada? Four teens weigh in
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in March that his government will consult residents on whether a social-media ban is appropriate, while the topic is gaining momentum federally. Ottawa appointed an expert panel in March to advise on online safety measures, while at the federal Liberal convention this month, party members voted in favour of setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media and chatbots.
The Globe and Mail also previously reported that Ottawa is considering a new regulator to police a social-media ban.
Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, who is spearheading a new bill to address online harms, has said that restrictions can be part of the solution.
“Online harms don’t end as soon as you turn 15 or 16,” he told reporters during a scrum on Parliament Hill earlier this month. “Segments of society can be violently attacked online and it’s time for social media and social platforms to have some responsibility.” He added he is “very seriously” considering measures such as a moratorium for youth.
A spokesperson for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Official Opposition, said Sunday that the party is waiting for additional details on next steps from the government.
How to talk to kids about their social media use, according to an expert
“Conservatives will carefully examine the different proposals being discussed when it comes to age restrictions on social media and AI tools,” Sam Lilly, the director of media relations for the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, said in a statement.
“The safety of our children online must always be a top priority, as must the privacy rights of Canadians online.”
Abroad, the European Commission has prepared a verification app that will allow users to anonymously prove their ages with their passports or ID cards when accessing online platforms. The Commission is calling on European Union countries and private companies to adopt the technology.
While experts have been studying social-media platforms for years, the popularity of chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT brings new problems, especially for young people. AI applications can exhibit fawning behaviour and mirror harmful thoughts expressed by users. Calls for regulation have grown since an 18-year-old shot and killed nine people, including themself, in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in February. The shooter discussed scenarios involving gun violence with ChatGPT, but OpenAI did not report the matter to Canadian law enforcement.
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon is preparing a new national AI strategy, and the federal government has faced calls to cover chatbots in its coming online harms legislation. “We’re in lots of discussion about how to make sure that we’re protecting kids,” he told reporters earlier this month, while directing questions about age verification to Mr. Miller’s department.
Opinion: A blanket ban won’t solve social media’s ills – but it can be an effective temporary tool
Since the ban went into effect in Australia, social-media companies have removed 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 to comply with the law, according to the country’s online safety regulator.
But a poll of more than 1,000 Australian youth aged 12 to 15 conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation, a non-profit, found that 61 per cent of respondents who had accounts on restricted platforms before the ban still had access through one or more account.
Experts have also raised concerns that youth can bypass safeguards or move to platforms that are less regulated and less moderated.
Helen Hayes, associate director of policy at the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, a research centre at McGill University, said that tackling these issues requires federal leadership, as a fragmented approach creates compliance issues for companies and uneven protections for youth.
She also said that without a digital safety regulator, which Canada currently lacks, a social-media ban could prove to be symbolic. Authorities need oversight of algorithms, design features and data management practices, she argued.
“In other countries, restrictions on youth access are paired with a dedicated digital regulator that can set standards, monitor compliance and enforce penalties,” she said. “Without that, you’re relying on platforms to self-police.”