Establish minimum social-media age
Petitioners ask the federal government to establish a national minimum age for social media and mandatory age verification, curb algorithmic targeting, support device‑free schools, strengthen minors’ image protections and fund preventative youth mental‑health programs.
Why we would sign this petition
- Could reduce minors’ exposure to algorithm-driven content and nonstop engagement linked to anxiety, depression and online bullying, addressing petitioners’ mental-health concerns.
- Mandatory age verification and device-free school policies would help parents and educators enforce developmental safeguards and limit premature, unrestricted platform use.
- Stronger restrictions on sharing minors’ images and investment in prevention would provide legal and programmatic tools to protect children and support early mental‑health interventions.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A national minimum age and strict verification could be costly and technically challenging to implement and enforce across platforms and borders.
- Device‑free school policies and age limits may restrict adolescents’ access to educational or social tools and raise equity and practicality concerns.
- Broad restrictions on algorithms and content could have unintended effects on free expression and may be less effective than targeted, evidence-based alternatives.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada We write as parents, educators, and concerned citizens urging you to make the mental health and well-being of our children a national priority. Our youth are the next generation of leaders and citizens, and their protection must be foundational; Canadian youth are experiencing rising levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation; Social media platforms expose children to algorithm-driven content designed to maximize, engagement, and unrestricted device use raises serious mental health concerns; Parents and educators are increasingly concerned that household safeguards are often bypassed, and online bullying and constant comparison can erode self-worth during critical developmental stages; and Society sets age limits for alcohol, driving, and other activities due to developmental readiness and safety risks; similar protections are needed for digital environments. We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Establish a national minimum age for social media use; 2. Implement strong age verification and protections for minors; 3. Restrict algorithmic targeting of children; 4. Support device-free school policies nationwide; 5. Strengthen protections against non-consensual recording and sharing of minors’ images; 6. Invest in preventative youth mental health strategies; Parents cannot carry this burden alone. Children deserve to grow, learn, and make mistakes without relentless digital pressure. 1. Establish a national minimum age for social media use; 2. Implement strong age verification and protections for minors; 3. Restrict algorithmic targeting of children; 4. Support device-free school policies nationwide; 5. Strengthen protections against non-consensual recording and sharing of minors’ images; 6. Invest in preventative youth mental health strategies; Parents cannot carry this burden alone. Children deserve to grow, learn, and make mistakes without relentless digital pressure.
Government response
No government response is available yet.