Canada introduced the Safe Social Media Act on Wednesday, requiring users to verify they are at least 16 before accessing platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. The legislation would create a Digital Safety Commission of Canada to establish safety standards and oversee compliance. Young people could access platforms that meet these requirements, while non-compliant services risk penalties.

The move follows Australia's lead, which passed similar legislation in November 2024 imposing fines of up to $33 million on companies that fail to disable underage accounts. Australia's law led to approximately five million accounts being deactivated. Canada's previous attempt at tech regulation, the Online Harms Act of 2024, failed amid concerns over free speech limitations.

Meta responded by assessing the plan's details, with spokeswoman Julia Perreira calling social media bans "counterproductive" while raising concerns about inconsistent age verification across platforms. The company noted teens use over 40 apps weekly, suggesting regulations should apply broadly.

Technology regulation professor Michael Geist criticized the approach as a "Band-Aid solution," arguing that excluding users rather than improving platform safety for everyone misses the mark. TikTok declined immediate comment on the proposal.