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Could Australia’s social media ban for under-16s work in Canada?
This article was originally published in The Gazette.
Australia has taken a decisive step by banning children under 16 from accessing social media. This bold move has sparked a debate in Canada. Should we follow their lead? At its core, this discussion isn’t just about imposing regulations — it’s about understanding the profound effects of digital dependencies on young minds. Let’s start with a question: Is social media addiction really all that different from other forms of addiction, like substance or even pornography addiction? While these comparisons may seem exaggerated, there are striking parallels. For instance, studies have consistently highlighted the negative effects of early exposure to pornography, such as impaired mental health, distorted relationships and skewed societal norms. Similarly, social media operates on dopamine-driven feedback loops — notifications, likes and comments that are deliberately designed to capture and hold attention. Over time, this can lead to dependency.
The consequences for adolescents are troubling. Excessive social media use has been linked to attention deficits, increased anxiety and a reduction in self-control. Unlike substance addiction, which often carries visible warnings and societal pushback, social media addiction is camouflaged under the guise of connection and entertainment. This lack of transparency has slowed recognition of the problem, including from global bodies like the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, which have yet to formally classify social media addiction as a condition. However, research is catching up. Studies have shown that overuse can lead to changes in brain structure, diminished empathy and other long-term effects that could be especially harmful to developing minds. Countries like China have already implemented strict rules, such as limiting minors’ screen time, but children often bypass restrictions using loopholes like fake IDs or adults’ accounts, leaving policymakers with enforcement challenges. Australia’s ban on social media for kids under 16 might face similar hurdles. So, is regulation alone enough to address this issue?
Canada must consider the complexities of this challenge. Outright bans may seem like a simple solution, but they often fail to account for the nuances of digital behaviour and the difficulties of enforcement. A hybrid approach may yield better results. Social media platforms themselves should bear some responsibility by incorporating features like age-sensitive content moderation, and AI tools that identify and limit harmful usage patterns. However, experience has shown that social media businesses aren’t likely to fully incorporate such solutions, as they might affect the companies’ primary goal of keeping people stuck in their platforms. Meta’s decision this month to end its fact-checking program in favour of user-driven “community notes,” similar to X’s system, highlights this tension. While this shift is framed as supporting free speech and may foster collective accountability, it risks exacerbating social media’s detrimental effects on young users. First, the success of community notes relies on active user participation and widespread adoption. This in turn incentivizes platforms like Meta to further entrench users in their ecosystems, potentially worsening social media addiction. Second, maintaining unbiased and diverse perspectives in community notes requires sophisticated algorithmic oversight. These algorithms must be transparent to build trust, but historically, social media companies have resisted making such systems fully open and accountable.
In light of these challenges, government intervention is crucial. Policymakers should enact measures that promote digital well-being while funding educational campaigns to raise awareness about responsible online behaviour. The objective should extend beyond blindly restricting access — it must focus on fostering healthier digital habits. Children’s developing brains make them particularly vulnerable to the addictive designs of social media. This underscores the need for a restrictive policy to safeguard their well-being and support their healthy development. The question isn’t just whether Canada should follow Australia’s lead. It’s whether we’re willing to confront the deeper societal challenges posed by our digital age. After all, the cost of inaction may well be measured in the well-being of future generations.
Iman Goodarzi is a PhD candidate in marketing at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business whose research focuses on the role of technologies in mitigating the harms they create.
