FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Landmark Social Media Safety Act Signals a New Era for Canada’s 8 Million Kids
The Era of Impunity for Big Tech Must End: Children First Canada Welcomes Introduction of the Legislation and Calls on Parliament to Act with Urgency to Protect Children and Youth.
OTTAWA, ON — June 10, 2026 — Children First Canada (CFC) welcomes today’s introduction of the federal government’s long-awaited online safety legislation, now known as the Social Media Safety Act, marking a major milestone in Canada’s efforts to better protect children and youth in the digital world.
For years, children, youth, parents, educators, pediatricians, researchers, and advocates have been sounding the alarm about the growing harms facing young people online. Today’s legislation signals that the federal government is taking important steps to address those concerns and strengthen protections for children in digital spaces. The proposed framework includes measures intended to increase platform accountability, strengthen protections for children, improve transparency, address emerging technologies, and establish independent oversight.
“Today marks an important step forward for Canada’s 8 million children,” said Sara Austin, Founder & CEO of Children First Canada. “For more than a decade, kids, youth, parents, and experts have been calling for action while online harms continued to escalate exponentially. We are encouraged to see the government introducing legislation that recognizes children deserve digital spaces that are safe by design, not harmful by default.”
Children First Canada notes that it is carefully reviewing the legislation and accompanying materials and will provide a detailed analysis in the coming days, including recommendations to strengthen the bill where necessary.
“One of the most significant aspects of this proposal is that it shifts the burden to where it belongs,” said Austin. “For too long, children and parents have carried the responsibility for navigating unsafe digital environments. This approach puts the onus on social media companies to demonstrate that their platforms meet robust child safety standards. Children’s safety should be the starting point, not an afterthought.”
Today’s announcement comes amid a growing public outcry for action to address online harms affecting Canadian children, including cyberbullying, sextortion, image-based abuse, online exploitation, harmful content, addictive platform design, and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence. The government has acknowledged that online harms are intensifying, that voluntary measures by platforms have fallen short, and that existing laws have not kept pace with rapidly evolving technologies. Through the Countdown for Kids campaign, Children First Canada has mobilized children, youth, parents, educators, pediatricians, researchers, and advocates from across the country in a national call for stronger protections. At a recent Day of Action on Parliament Hill, participants delivered a clear message: “Time is up on online harms.”
“No family should have to experience the pain that ours has endured,” said Carol Todd, founder of the Amanda Todd Legacy Society. “This legislation is an important opportunity to help protect children from
the kinds of harms that devastated Amanda and so many other young people. We owe it to children to act with urgency and to build a safer digital world for them to grow up in.”
“I was eight years old when the government first promised online safety legislation. I’m twelve now,” said Zachary Fathally, member of Children First Canada’s Young Canadians’ Parliament and Youth Advisory Council. “Kids have spent years waiting for protection while online harms keep getting worse. I’m glad to see our government listening. Now it’s time for Parliament to act. Kids can’t wait any longer.”
“Introducing the legislation is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning,” said Austin. “The details matter. We will be examining the bill closely to assess whether it adequately reflects the realities children face online today, from social media and gaming to AI chatbots and emerging digital risks. Our priority is ensuring that protecting children’s rights is at the heart of this legislation.”
Children First Canada is calling on all Members of Parliament and Senators to work together with a shared focus on protecting the rights of children and youth and to move the legislation forward without delay.
“This cannot become a political battle while children continue to suffer preventable harms that are putting their lives in danger,” said Austin. “Children’s rights to survive and thrive must rise above partisanship. Canada has an opportunity to become a global leader in creating a safer digital world for all our children. We urge all federal parties to work collaboratively to strengthen and pass this legislation.”
Children First Canada will continue to engage children and youth directly through its Young Canadians’ Parliament and Youth Advisory Council to help ensure that the legislation reflects the lived realities of young people growing up in an increasingly digital world.
About Children First Canada
Children First Canada is a national charity with a bold vision to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. Through research, advocacy, and youth empowerment, CFC works to advance the rights and wellbeing of Canada’s 8 million children and youth.
For more information about the Countdown for Kids campaign, visit Countdown for Kids.
Media contact:
Andrea Chrysanthou
Chair of the Board, Children First Canada
Email: andrea@amplifyonline.ca
Phone: 416-797-8194