Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Some teenagers in Prince Edward Island say Ottawa’s plan to ban social media for kids oversimplifies a complex problem and risks punishing young people instead of holding tech companies to account.
This month, the federal government introduced Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act.
Key elements of the bill include establishing a Digital Safety Commission and setting safety criteria and guidelines for social media and artificial intelligence chatbots.
But the portion causing the most chatter is a ban on social accounts for kids under 16 (with the potential for exemption for services deemed to have put “adequate safeguards”in place).
Members of the P.E.I. Office of the Child and Youth Advocate’s youth advisory committee, all students heading into Grade 12, say that approach won’t keep kids safe on its own.
“I don’t think that banning it is going to solve the problem,” Chikondi Timoula told Island Morning host Mitch Cormier.
“We need to hold these big platforms accountable and hold the people that are actually causing the harm accountable instead of the youth.”
Island Morning8:38Island youth speak out on proposed social media ban
Ottawa’s proposed social media ban has sparked debate for weeks. The legislation would require platforms to block access for children under 16, but some question whether it would achieve its goal. High school students Asher Cameron MacDonald, Chikondi Timoula and Roslyn Tinoula join us to share their thoughts.
Her sister, Roslyn Timoula, who also sits on the committee, said young people are living with both the best and worst of social media at the same time.
“We’ve seen a lot of good stuff, like people get to find a community,” Roslyn said. “For some people, they don’t feel like they can fully be themselves at home or at school, but they can find that online.”
On the negative side, she pointed to cyberbullying, pressure around body image and other harmful content that can spread and intensify online.
Committee member Asher Cameron MacDonald said he initially supported a ban, but changed his mind after a recent discussion at the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate.
“After our conversation … I’m more in the gray area,” he said. “You shouldn’t just punish the children with the social media ban. I think it’s good to also teach media literacy to keep people safe on the internet.”
All three teens said media literacy — understanding how social media platforms work, recognizing online scams and learning how to respond to harmful content — is something many young people are left to figure out on their own.
At school, Asher said, online safety is usually limited to occasional presentations.
“You don’t really get it in class,” he said. “It’s just kind of a thing that you have to trial and error for yourself.”
Chikondi added that lessons on digital life should be built into the curriculum from an early age, especially in health classes that already touch on mental health.
She worries strict age rules will push kids to hide what they’re doing online.
“In places like Australia with their ban, people have been finding ways to get around it,” she said. “If we have a ban here, people will find ways, and the fact that it’ll be banned will make people want to use it even more.”
The Liberal government tabled a bill to restrict young Canadians’ access to social media unless companies can demonstrate their platforms are safe. The Safe Social Media Act also aims to limit youth access to AI chatbots.
Their message to adults is less about cutting teens off from social media and more about showing up alongside them.
“Watch your children, maybe try to learn yourself more about media literacy and try to teach your children,” Chikondi said.
“Just teaching your kids how to be safe on the internet and what to do if you get in a sticky situation with someone online.”
