Halifax researchers weigh pros and cons of social media ban for youth

Canadian researchers are exploring the trade-offs involved in potential government-mandated social media bans for youth under 16. As the federal government prepares legislation addressing online safety for young Canadians, including an age restriction, Dalhousie University researchers are scrutinizing the possible negative consequences.

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It’s also important to consider the trade-offs that exist, the sacrifices that are going to come to freedom of expression, to privacy, to child development and educational interests.

Michael Karanicolas, editor of the report "Think of the Children," expressed concerns about the ramifications of requiring tech companies to implement digital age verification tools. "There’s no way to design this without significant impacts on privacy and a significant expansion of digital surveillance," he stated, adding that such measures would lead to increased data collection by tech companies.

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There’s no way to design this without significant impacts on privacy and a significant expansion of digital surveillance.

Researchers warn that methods like requiring government-issued IDs for age verification could result in pervasive surveillance, with uncertain outcomes. While Canada considers such measures, Australia has already implemented a ban for youth under 16. However, reports indicate that approximately 70 percent of young people previously on social media continue to use their accounts there.

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So from that perspective, it is expanding data collection by tech companies.

Human rights advocate Toby Mendel cautioned that blanket bans might face legal challenges in Canada, as constitutional restrictions on rights must be carefully designed and proportionate. Panelists at a Dalhousie University report presentation favored protecting children online and addressing social media addiction but emphasized the need for a targeted approach. Renee Black, founder of GoodBot, advocated for inherent changes in platform design to discourage problematic impacts, such as infinite scroll features that can lead to addiction and design elements that allow strangers to contact children with malicious intent.

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It’s just not going to fly here in Canada. Our Constitution requires restrictions on rights to be carefully designed and proportionate. And blanket bans just don’t meet that standard.