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Canada Eyes Social Media Safety With New Under-16 Restrictions
Canada’s Bold Move Towards Safer Social Media for Kids
Canada is taking a decisive step in online safety by proposing legislation that could ban children under 16 from having social media accounts unless platforms can prove their safety. This move, introduced on Wednesday, aligns Canada with a global trend aiming to bolster digital safety for minors.
Culture Minister Marc Miller expressed the urgency of this initiative, stating, “We are failing our children. Enough is enough. We need basic protection in place.” Platforms seeking an exemption from the ban would need to demonstrate robust safety measures.
Comprehensive Safety Regulations in the Works
The legislation plans to address seven types of harmful content, including material that encourages self-harm, incites violence, or distributes non-consensual intimate images. To enforce these regulations, Canada will establish the Digital Safety Commission, a new regulatory body expected to take up to 18 months to form.
Age verification systems will also be part of the safety measures, ensuring that social media platforms can confidently verify users’ ages. While the specifics of exemptions remain under wraps, platforms featuring adult content will be ineligible for any exceptions.
Learning from Global Counterparts
Following in the footsteps of countries like Australia, Brazil, and Indonesia, Canada is part of a broader movement to implement age-based access restrictions on social media. Australia's laws have already led to the removal of 4.7 million child accounts, stirring discussions about privacy and child welfare.
Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, praised the proposal, highlighting a concerning increase in sextortion cases on social media. Additionally, Canadian officials plan to draw insights from Australia's experiences as they roll out their own regulations.
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Author: Nico
