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Most Canadians want social media, AI chatbot ban for kids under 16, poll indicates
The poll of 1,848 respondents found 70% support social media age limits and 69% back AI chatbot restrictions, with more than 80% expressing concern.
- A new Leger poll indicates more than two-thirds of Canadians support restricting social media and AI chatbots for children under 16. Specifically, 70 per cent back age limits for Instagram and TikTok, while 69 per cent support restrictions for ChatGPT.
- Culture Minister Marc Miller is drafting an online harms bill, while Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew separately announced plans to ban children from using social media and AI chatbots. Miller emphasized that regulating online platforms falls under federal jurisdiction.
- While 55 per cent of respondents believe regulating access is a federal responsibility, 60 per cent expressed skepticism that tech companies could effectively enforce age verification. "Concern from Canadians is pretty high," noted Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada.
- Parents with children under 16 were slightly less supportive, with 27 per cent opposing age restrictions. Just under 40 per cent of respondents worried that banning AI chatbots could "limit their access to useful tools for learning, communication or creativity."
- Global momentum for these restrictions follows Australia's ban last year. Enns noted that recent court verdicts finding Meta and Google liable for harms, alongside the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge involving OpenAI's ChatGPT, may be driving these concerns.
Insights by Ground AI
24 Articles
24 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left16Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution76% Left
Bias Distribution
- 76% of the sources lean Left
76% Left
L 76%
C 24%
Factuality
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