Manitoba is moving toward a major crackdown on how young people use the internet. On Saturday, Premier Wab Kinew announced plans to ban youth from accessing social media platforms and AI chatbots. If passed, the proposed legislation would be the first of its kind in Canada, aimed at shielding young users from what the government sees as the harmful effects of these platforms.
Kinew argued that many of these platforms are deliberately built to hook users, saying they are designed to get people “addicted to the infinite scroll,” which can fuel mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Speaking to a crowd of about 900 people at an NDP fundraising gala in Winnipeg, he didn’t hold back. “They’re doing these very awful things to kids all in the name of a few likes, all in the name of more engagement, and all in the name of money,” Kinew said.
He added, “More money for a group of rich tech bros who already have a ton.”
Research has linked heavy social media use among young people to problems like poor sleep, reduced attention spans, and longer-term mental health challenges. Still, experts say more evidence is needed to fully understand cause and effect.
Kinew maintained that the issue lies in how these platforms are built. “These platform are not neutral. They have been built this way to maximize engagement,” he said. “They amplify comparisons between yourself and artificial standards, they amplify outrage and they expose kids to content they’re not ready for.”
According to CBC, while Canada’s heritage minister has said the federal government is “very seriously” considering similar age restrictions — and other provinces are exploring the idea — Manitoba is the first to outline a concrete plan.
Details remain unclear. The premier did not specify what age limit the province is considering, how the ban would be enforced, or when it might come into effect. He also declined to speak to reporters after his speech.
Manitoba’s move follows a similar step in Australia, where a law requires social media companies to take reasonable measures to block users under 16 or face penalties. That landmark rule came into force in December.
Tech analyst and journalist Carmi Levy pointed to early signs that the Australian policy is having some impact, noting that nearly five million youth accounts were deactivated within a month of its rollout.
However, he also cautioned that the shift isn’t entirely straightforward. “At the same time, we also have evidence that kids are simply shifting their attention to other platforms that were not included in the ban,” Levy said, pointing to AI tools as one such example.
Levy noted that Manitoba appears to be taking a broader approach. “Manitoba is casting a much wider net,” he said. “They will recognize that AI poses as significant as or even worse a risk than social media does, and that it has to be included in any kind of legislation that ultimately takes place.”
Under Australia’s law, companies must remove or deactivate accounts belonging to underage users and prevent them from creating new ones. Those that fail to comply can face fines of up to $48.8 million Canadian. The rules currently apply to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, Twitch, Kick, and YouTube, according to CBC.
Media professional and journalist based in British Columbia, Canada. Founder of Studiox Film & TV Corporation, focusing on multicultural news, interviews, and community storytelling across Canada.
