Bill C-34 would force platforms to redesign for under-16 users
⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️
- The federal government tabled a bill to restrict social media for teens under 16.
- Social media companies can lift restrictions if they meet certain requirements.
- Two teens weigh the pros and cons of social media.
- Keep reading to find out how this might play out. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
When Jasmine Bhathena, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was 11, she started using Snapchat to stay in touch with her friends.
Her friend recommended she add someone to her contacts and without really knowing what she was doing, she did. The person said they were 15, but it turned out they were actually 22.
“It had a very negative impact. I, of course, blocked them and deleted them off all of my social media,” Jasmine told CBC Kids News. “It was a very scary time for me.”
Now that Jasmine is 15, she feels social media is not a safe place for kids — and that’s why she’s in favour of a social media restriction for teens.
The federal government proposed Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, on June 10.
If it is passed, it could take up to 18 months to go into effect.
Basically, Canada has warned companies: make the platforms safer for kids or kids under 16 will be restricted from using them.
Currently, the age limit is 13.
What the government is proposing
The government said that the bill will require companies to assess how harmful content is.
Companies can also seek to lift the age restriction once they prove they have followed the government’s criteria.
Companies would have to have systems that could quickly remove harmful content to reduce exposure.
This content can include sexual exploitation and non-consensual intimate images, self-harm, bullying, hate speech, violence and terrorism.
In 2019, one in four kids (25 per cent) aged 12 to 17 reported experiencing cyberbullying in the previous year, according to the government of Canada. (Katie Collins/Reuters)
“Through the law, we will ask social media platforms and chatbots to do more to protect children so that the platforms are safe in their very design,” said Marc Miller, minister of Canadian identity, at a news conference on June 10.
Any new or existing social media platform or online service for kids will need to follow specific requirements, called an age-appropriate design code.
For example, this means that services will be designed so that no adults can direct message a kid they’re not already friends with or allow infinite scroll on platforms.
The government did not include AI chatbots in the bill, but they are included in the safety regulations.
Miller said that’s because of a separate new AI strategy announced on June 4 by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“Chatbots are different from social media,” said Miller.
“It plays a function and a role that can certainly cause harm to children, but that can also play an important role in the education system and in the AI strategy that we are putting forward.”
Jasmine’s thoughts on a restriction
Jasmine said that she heard about similar laws in other countries like Australia.
“I do believe that implementing this ban would be a great idea.”
“Some bad things about social media can include cyber dependence, so lots of addiction. It can also include lots of comparisons online, which cannot be good for young children’s mental health.”
She said she spends about five hours a day on social media, but would feel much better without it.
“I personally am very excited about this, although I do love my social media. I think that just without it, I feel much better about myself and I feel more free.”
Jasmine Bhathena hopes to embrace her hobbies like sewing and crafting and dance while staying away from screens. (Image submitted by Firdaus Bhathena)
Jasmine is hoping the new law brings solutions to the problems she sees online.
When she was reflecting on her experience on Snapchat at 11, she said that moving forward she would like to see apps warn kids if someone might be older than they say.
“I believe Snapchat is at fault for this because they should have some sort of safeguard for under 18-year-olds,” she said. “My account did say I was under 18.”
This teen doesn’t agree
Kail Dutt, a 14-year-old from Sydney, Nova Scotia, said a restriction should be thought about carefully.
He learned to build a computer from YouTube and TikTok and he said he wouldn’t have been introduced to it without social media.
“A lot more of the stuff that we watch is stuff that can actually or is actually teaching us stuff, rather than just random videos.”
He said that he thinks many young people won’t like the age restriction because of how some kids are so used to being on social media.
“I feel like if everyone else doesn’t have it as well, I wouldn’t really care about it that much.”
Kail Dutt holds a piece from his computer that he made, which is sitting behind him. He learned about gaming and formed his love of computers through social media. (Image submitted by Monika Dutt)
Make platforms accountable, not users, says expert
Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, said the proposed legislation is a good first step.
“It opens the door to better transparency, safety plans, better design and real liability for failure to live up to their obligations,” he said.
Once the bill becomes law, platforms would have to change the way their content is moderated to keep under-16 users on their app.
Geist, whose research focuses on technology, law and policy, said that the real alternative is to make social media safe for everyone.
“Coming up with a ban that focuses only on a certain set of users, like kids under 16, represents a bit of a band-aid solution,” he said.
“The problems don’t magically disappear once you turn 17.”
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