Protecting kids online: Ontario NDP pushes for action on social media harms 

QUEEN’S PARK — Today, Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade Catherine Fife (Waterloo), introduced a motion calling on the Ontario government to investigate the harmful impact of social media on children and youth, and to implement stronger protections across the province.

“Research continues to show what parents and educators already know—excessive screen time and unregulated social media use are harming kids’ mental health,” said Fife. “Ontario needs to take this seriously and begin putting safeguards in place to protect our youth.”

The call for action comes as school boards across Ontario pursue legal action against social media companies, and as countries like Australia move forward with national restrictions, approving a social media ban for children under 16 in 2024.

The motion urges the Standing Committee on Social Policy to commission a report that would:

• Review the addictive nature of social media platforms for those under 18, including the use of curated algorithms, infinite scroll, surveillance capitalism, and frequent notifications;
• Clarify the responsibilities of social media companies in moderating access and usage for children under 13; and
• Require Ontario Public Health Units to implement clear health warnings on social media platforms about the risks of excessive use by youth.

Health professionals and community advocates who see the harms of unchecked digital exposure every day are backing the NDP’s push.

“Children’s developing brains are no match for social media platforms engineered to be addictive—features like infinite scroll, algorithmic feeds that exploit emotional vulnerabilities, rewards for adding strangers and sending Snaps, and relentless notifications,” said Dr. Alison Yeung, a practicing family physician in Ontario. “Yet, there’s no obligation for platforms to verify users’ ages, even as 40% of kids use social media before the recommended age of 13 … By removing addictive features, mandating age verification, and increasing public education about the benefits and harms of social media, we can shift the burden off of families and onto platforms.”

Fife emphasized that Ontario needs to move now to set clear, evidence-based guidelines for screen time and content exposure, and to give families, educators, and public health officials the tools they need to protect kids in today’s fast-changing digital world.