TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Government of Canada proposed a bill prohibiting children under 16 from having social media accounts. The regulation, named the Safe Social Media Act, also imposes new obligations on social media platforms and AI-based chatbot services to enhance the protection of children.
Marc Miller, Canadian Minister of Identity and Culture, imposed the bill. If passed, Canada will join Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia in taking steps to limit children's access to social media.
Under the regulation, social media companies are required to design safer products for children. Platforms must also remove deepfake content and material that subjects children to sexual violence or re-victimizes survivors.
Furthermore, platforms are required to provide labels for AI content, clear mechanisms for reporting harmful content, and user-blocking features to reduce exposure to risky material.
Although social media will be subject to a minimum age limit of 16, AI chatbot services will not be restricted by age. Miller believes that the impact of AI chatbots is not as well understood as the impact of social media.
"Chatbots are not as well-studied as the harm caused by social media platforms," said Miller during the announcement of the bill at a press conference, as quoted in the Engadget report on June 10, 2026. "They don't have the same social role."
Nevertheless, the Safe Social Media Act still includes specific provisions for AI chatbot services. This move is reportedly in response to OpenAI's handling of the Tumbler Ridge shooting case.
The bill requires AI platforms to reduce the risk of chatbots spreading harmful content and prevent behavior that could endanger users. Service providers must also prepare emergency measures to address crises.
Miller stated that the Digital Safety Commission of Canada will determine further details regarding platforms' obligations, in addition to the minimum age requirement of 16. The agency, established through separate legislation, will be responsible for enforcing regulations and have the authority to grant exceptions to platforms deemed to have adequate protection for children.
Read: Malaysia Enforces Social Media Ban for Under-16s
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