Listen to the article
Majority of Canadians Support Social Media Ban for Users Under 16, Poll Finds
A new Angus Reid survey reveals that three-quarters of Canadians support implementing age restrictions on social media platforms, similar to those recently introduced in Australia. The poll, which surveyed more than 4,000 respondents, shows strong public concern about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and well-being.
The Australian model, which has caught the attention of Canadian policymakers and parents alike, prevents youth under 16 from creating accounts on major social platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and Threads. Such restrictions place the responsibility on tech companies to verify users’ ages and block access to underage individuals.
The survey comes amid growing global scrutiny of social media’s impact on young users. Just last week, a California court ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury determined the platforms were deliberately designed with addictive features. This landmark ruling could set a precedent for similar cases in Canada and other jurisdictions.
Social media regulation is gaining political traction in Canada as well. The federal Liberal party has included social media age restrictions on the agenda for its national convention next month, with proposals that would require tech platforms to prevent underage users from creating accounts.
However, the poll revealed what researchers called a “curious juxtaposition” in public opinion. While most respondents supported government-mandated age restrictions, they simultaneously believed parents should bear primary responsibility for regulating teens’ social media use – not government authorities. This tension highlights the complex nature of digital regulation and the challenges in balancing parental authority with institutional safeguards.
Concerns about social media’s impact are nearly universal among Canadians, with 94 percent of respondents expressing worry about negative mental health effects. Other top concerns included addiction, excessive screen time, exposure to misinformation, vulnerability to online predators, and cyberbullying.
Digital safety experts note that these concerns are well-founded. Dr. Michael Thompson, a child psychologist at the University of Toronto who was not involved in the study, explained, “The developing brain is particularly susceptible to the dopamine hits that come from social media engagement. Limiting exposure during critical developmental years could be beneficial.”
Tech industry representatives have pushed back against blanket age restrictions, arguing they may drive youth usage underground where monitoring becomes more difficult. Instead, they advocate for improved parental controls and digital literacy education.
Implementation challenges also remain significant. Age verification systems are notoriously difficult to enforce effectively, with many young users finding workarounds through parental accounts or by misrepresenting their age.
The poll comes as several provinces are independently considering digital safety legislation. Quebec and British Columbia have both established task forces to examine potential regulations for social media platforms operating within their borders.
The Angus Reid survey was conducted online between March 11 and 17, 2026. As with all online polling, the Canadian Research Insights Council notes that a traditional margin of error cannot be assigned since these surveys do not randomly sample the population.
The federal government has yet to announce specific legislative plans regarding social media age restrictions, though the issue is expected to feature prominently in upcoming parliamentary discussions on digital policy and youth protection.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
I’m curious to learn more about the specific survey methodology and findings. What proportions of different age groups and demographics were polled? Understanding the details could help assess the representativeness of the results.
Good point. More transparency around the survey design and sample would help evaluate the strength of the public support claimed in the article.
While I understand the concerns about social media’s impacts, a blanket ban for under-16s seems overly restrictive. Perhaps more targeted policies, like age verification and parental controls, could address the issues without completely denying access.
That’s a reasonable perspective. A nuanced, flexible approach may be more effective than an outright ban in protecting youth while still allowing appropriate use of social media.
The mental health impacts of social media, especially on young people, are a serious issue that needs to be addressed. However, I’m curious to know if there is international evidence supporting the effectiveness of age restrictions like those in Australia.
Good point. Examining the real-world outcomes of similar policies in other jurisdictions could help inform whether this approach would be beneficial in the Canadian context.
This is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. While protecting youth from potential harms is crucial, we must also consider potential unintended consequences of overly restrictive policies. Nuance and balance will be key.
This is an important issue that deserves careful consideration. While social media can provide benefits, the potential harms to young users’ mental health are concerning. A balanced approach that protects minors while allowing appropriate access could be prudent.
Agreed. Any restrictions should be evidence-based and consider the nuances of how different young people use social media. Nuance and flexibility will be key to any effective policy.