OTTAWA — Federal Heritage Minister Marc Miller says banning social media for minors could be part of the Liberals’ plan to improve online safety, but it won’t be the only solution.
The idea comes after party members proposed setting a minimum age of 16, similar to a law in Australia. Mark Carney has said the government is open to considering it, but no final decision has been made.
Past Liberal efforts to regulate online platforms failed, including Bill C-63, which proposed stricter rules for harmful content and tougher penalties for hate crimes.
Now holding a majority, the Liberals may have a better chance of passing new legislation, though support from other parties is still important. Conservatives say all options should be considered to protect youth, while the NDP is urging the government to introduce a simpler, more focused bill.
Miller said there’s no timeline yet for new legislation. He also noted that regulating AI tools, like ChatGPT, is more complex and is being reviewed separately after recent safety concerns.
