Canadian Medical Association Urges Social Media Safeguards to Protect Children’s Health

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The Canadian Medical Association’s Heal Childhood campaign urges Parliament to enact Bill C-34, including restrictions on social media accounts for children younger than 16.
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Bill C-34 would require platforms to strengthen safeguards against cyberbullying, self-harm content, and child sexual victimization, and establish a Digital Safety Commission.
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CMA president Bolu Ogunyemi says physicians report increasing mental health concerns, sleep and attention problems, school absences, and body-image concerns among young patients.
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Research suggests social media has a modest average adverse association with youth well-being, but effects vary and evidence linking adolescent use to poor mental health remains inconclusive.
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Psychologist Amori Mikami opposes a universal age ban and favors public health campaigns that teach young people and parents to recognize harmful online interactions.

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