The Canadian government has proposed a bill to ban children under 16 from social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, citing concerns over mental health and exploitation.
The Safe Social Media Act would allow some platforms to obtain exemptions if they meet safety requirements, but adult pornography sites and AI chatbots would be exempt.
Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 3% of their global revenue or $7 million.
The proposed ban has drawn support from several provincial leaders, teachers' groups, and the Canadian Medical Association, but tech companies and some civil liberties groups have expressed opposition.
The Canadian government has long sought to pass legislation aimed at addressing the potential harms children face online, and this bill is the latest effort to address the issue.
