Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government will ask voters to consider a full ban on social media for children younger than 16 after a national poll found three-quarters of Canadians support such a move.
The survey, conducted online between March 11 and 17, found that 18 percent of respondents opposed a social media ban for minors and 7 percent were uncertain.
The gap in support between banning certain apps—87 percent—and the 75 percent support for a full ban on social media for those younger than 16 suggests there is some hesitation to fully restrict children from using all types of social media, however.
Respondents who want the prohibition of specific applications were asked which apps they would restrict for users 15 and younger. Of those, 88 percent said they would ban TikTok, followed by 86 percent for X, 84 percent for Snapchat, and 77 percent for Instagram. A majority—72 percent—also said they would ban Facebook and Reddit. Only 48 percent wanted a ban on YouTube.
The upcoming national Liberal convention will discuss the topic of age restrictions on social media next month, with demands for technology platforms to take responsibility in preventing underage individuals from creating accounts.
Most survey respondents who favour a total ban said it is mainly the responsibility of parents to regulate their children’s social media activities, rather than that of the government, the poll found. The pollster termed this a “curious juxtaposition.”
Seventy-two percent of Canadians surveyed said parents should be primarily responsible for regulating teens’ social media use. That includes 70 percent of those who would support a full ban on social media use for those younger than 16.
The vast majority of respondents expressed concern about the impacts of social media, with 94 percent saying they worry about mental health consequences.
Social Media Bans By Country
Australia implemented the world’s first strict social media ban for children last December in a bid to protect the mental health of children younger than 16. The law forces platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube to take “reasonable steps” to block access, with potential fines of up to $34.7 million for non-compliance.France, Denmark, Indonesia, and several other countries are using Australia’s social media ban as a template.
Indonesia began enforcing a ban for children under 16 on major platforms on March 28. Affected platforms include TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
France passed a bill in January aimed at prohibiting social media access for children younger than 15. The bill must still be approved by the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.
The Danish government announced in November 2025 that it had obtained backing for a ban from three parties within the governing coalition as well as two opposition parties in parliament. The government’s plans could become law as soon as mid-2026, according to The Associated Press.
Similar restrictions are being considered in the UK. The government has said it will consult parents, youth, and civil society for their views to assess the potential effectiveness of a ban.
A similar pattern of support for such a ban is also prevalent in the United States, according to the Angus Reid survey. Seventy-two percent of Americans support such a ban, while 22 percent were opposed and 6 percent were uncertain.
The survey also comes on the heels of a ruling in California last week ordering Meta and YouTube to pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman after a jury decided the platforms were designed to be addictive.
