As Saskatchewan considers whether to restrict social media use for children under the age of 16, an online safety educator says meaningful change will require education, stronger regulation, and accountability from technology companies.
Val Caldwell is an online safety educator and public speaker based in western Manitoba who works as an independent consultant, delivering presentations across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Caldwell says reports of child sexual exploitation continue to emerge each month, noting official figures only represent cases that are reported. “There are a lot of really dark and negative things happening on these platforms,” she said, while acknowledging social media can also offer positive connections. “It’s about finding balance.”
Calls for Government Regulation and Company Accountability
Caldwell believes governments must play a role in regulating how social media companies operate in Canada, including what content is accessible to young users and how long they remain engaged.
She points to international differences, noting that some countries impose strict daily screen‑time limits for children, while Canadian users face few restrictions. “Our kids have access to endless scrolling, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said. “I would rather see limits on time than rely on age restrictions alone.”
Caldwell added that platforms continue to struggle with age verification, with many children finding ways around safeguards.
Education Seen as Critical Gap
While Caldwell agrees parents play an important role, she says education remains one of the biggest missing pieces in addressing online risk. “I would like to see governments investing more in education,” she said. “There aren’t many people doing this work full‑time, especially inside schools.”
She also stressed that online risks extend beyond children, noting that seniors are increasingly targeted by scams and financial exploitation. “These platforms don’t just impact kids,” Caldwell said. “They impact everyone.”
Guidance for Families and Young Users
When introducing children to technology, Caldwell encourages parents to delay access for as long as possible, citing growing research on screen use and brain development. “If I’m being honest, the older the better,” she said. “Young kids don’t need social media platforms.”
She also urges families to keep devices with cameras out of private spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and change rooms. “Kids are impulsive, and things can happen very quickly,” Caldwell said.
Many youth she speaks with, she added, say they wish stronger limits had been in place earlier.
Supporting Parents in a Complex Digital World
Caldwell emphasized that most parents are doing the best they can as technology evolves faster than their understanding. “It’s an overwhelming world,” she said. “Even doing this full‑time, I don’t claim to know everything. The more support and information we can provide to parents, the safer kids will be.”
