Canada introduces social media age ban

In June, the Canada — Government of Canada introduced Bill C-34, which would require social media platforms to block access for users under 16. The bill is part of a broader global trend toward age restrictions on social media, with similar measures in the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. France's Constitutional Council recently struck down its ban as too broad, while Australia's law has faced enforcement challenges. The Canadian bill leaves age verification methods unspecified, prompting debate over options such as facial age estimation, digital IDs, and app-store-level verification. Meta Platforms has lobbied for app-store-level enforcement, while privacy concerns have been raised by the Canada — Privacy Commissioner of Canada. The bill is expected to be implemented by a future digital safety commission.