Calgary 
A growing debate over social media and young people is gaining momentum in Canada, and new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests many Canadians are ready for stricter rules.
That conversation has been fuelled in part by a recent California ruling that described platforms like Instagram and YouTube as deliberately addictive for children. In Canada, the idea of banning social media for those under 16 is already on the table, and public opinion appears to be leaning in that direction.
According to the Angus Reid Institute, 75 per cent of Canadians support a full ban on social media use for anyone under 16. Among parents, support remains strong at 70 per cent. At the same time, 61 per cent of Canadians say teenagers are not capable of using social media responsibly, a view shared by 52 per cent of parents whose oldest child is 16 or 17.
Credit: Angus Reid Institute
Concern about what young users are exposed to is widespread. The study shows 94 per cent worry about mental health impacts and addiction, while 92 per cent point to misinformation and 90 per cent to cyberbullying. Exposure to explicit content is also flagged by 85 per cent.
Even with that level of concern, most Canadians still see parents as the primary gatekeepers. About 72 per cent say responsibility for regulating social media use should fall to families rather than governments, compared with 20 per cent who favour government control.
In practice, many parents are already stepping in. Those with children aged 10 to 15 are more likely than not to set limits, whether by restricting apps, monitoring activity, or capping screen time.
There is less agreement on where to draw the line. While 32 per cent say 16 is the right age to start using social media, others point to ages 10 to 12, 14, or 15.
The findings are based on an online survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute between March 11 and 17, 2026, among 4,005 Canadian adults. The sample was weighted to reflect the country’s population, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.
