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Susan Holt is adding her voice alongside leaders in other provinces by calling on the federal government to ban social media for youth under 16 years old.
Speaking in the legislature Tuesday, she said her government is willing to use its own legislative powers to “strengthen protections for children and youth online”, should an impending federal bill on digital safety fall short of addressing her concerns.
“Childcare experts have been raising the concern about the measurable negative impact that technology and social media is having on young people’s mental health, their development and their wellbeing,” Holt said during Tuesday’s question period.
The federal government is expected to table legislation as early as Wednesday that could restrict young people’s access to social media in Canada.
Holt said her government has already been working on its own bill.
She told reporters Tuesday that she is waiting to see what Ottawa’s plan shows in the next few days to determine if a provincial bill could move forward “for the fall.”
“We’d love to see it move as quickly as possible,” Holt said.
On Tuesday, Culture Minister Marc Miller said he couldn’t comment on the government’s online harms bill before the legislation is tabled in the House of Commons, but added, ‘I think it’s obvious why it’s a priority, kids are dying.’
In a written letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed for June 5, Holt is also calling for that legislation to ban targeted ads directed toward minors, and restrict social media feeds that are based on algorithms for them.
The letter noted that research has linked consistent social media use to increased mental health issues, especially in young girls.
“As a parent of three young girls, I see these impacts firsthand every day,” she wrote.
British Columbia called for a ban on social media for youth under 16. Delegates of that province’s chamber of commerce recently voted against it but called for more mental health funding and penalties on U.S. social media companies.
Manitoba promised to become the first jurisdiction in the country to ban social media and AI chatbots for kids.
Premier looking to Australia’s social media ban
When asked by reporters Tuesday how she thinks an age-based ban would work, Holt said she is taking ideas from the Australian model.
The country became the first nation to implement a social media ban for kids under 16 in 2025.
Holt said users would have to prove their age when attempting to create an account to “act as one gate for access.”
Fining or placing penalties on social media companies that do not follow legislated requirements would take it one step further, she said.
“Then all of society can start to shift our habits in ways that protect our kids.”
Holt wrote that the province’s education system is teaching kids to use technology in a safe way but that “this challenge requires a national solution and federal leadership.”
