The Big Story Should Canadian kids be banned from social media until they're 16?
Dec 10, 2025
In this discussion, Jay Olson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto specializing in smartphone impacts on youth, examines Australia’s bold new law banning social media for under-16s. He explores the challenges of age verification and circumventions like VPNs. Jay emphasizes the mental health risks children face online, including anxiety and depression, while acknowledging social media’s positive aspects. He advocates for combined regulation and family involvement to effectively manage smartphone use, urging countries to experiment with such policies.
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Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Bet
- Short-term withdrawal from social media will create frustration but varies by person.
- Jay Olson says longer-term effects are what governments are banking on for net positive outcomes.
Verification Determines Real Impact
- Age verification systems will shape the policy's effectiveness and have many edge cases.
- Olson notes outcomes differ if a small percentage of peers bypass measures versus near-universal compliance.
Anticipate And Adapt To Loopholes
- Expect loopholes like VPNs, sibling accounts, or alternate devices and plan for iterative tech fixes.
- Olson recommends accepting imperfection while improving enforcement over time.