Published 11 hours ago • loading... • Updated 6 hours ago
Majority of Saskatchewan Supports Social Media Limits for Youth: Survey
The mailed survey drew more than 26,000 responses, and 58.47% said 16 should be the cutoff age for any limits, the province said.
On Thursday, Saskatchewan released survey results showing about 86 per cent of more than 26,000 respondents support social media limits for children under 16, with the consultation conducted via mailed-out cards costing roughly $180,000.
Ottawa introduced Bill C-34 earlier this year seeking to prohibit social media access for youth under 16, prompting provincial officials to use the survey findings to inform broader federal online safety discussions.
Youth Matter Canada Executive Director Laura Lawrence said engagement with youth revealed that addictive algorithms pose significant risks, though 31 per cent of respondents identified YouTube as a platform warranting exemption from potential rules.
Saskatchewan Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Lori Carr plans to meet with federal Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller to discuss results shared with Ottawa.
Lawrence emphasized that AI chatbots pose risks to children whose prefrontal cortexes are still developing, and the province will use survey insights to support ongoing federal discussions regarding further youth online protections.