HALIFAX: The provincial Liberal party said it wanted to bring forward the Social Media Responsibility Act because they want Nova Scotia to be the best place to raise a child, and part of that means protecting kids from social media and setting a minimum age for its use.
“Other jurisdictions are already moving in this direction, and we hope that by taking action here in Nova Scotia, we can help build momentum for broader national standards,” the party said responding to questions from The Laker News following the announcement in Halifax.
Liberal House Leader Ian Rankin will table the bill this fall.
The Liberals say they are committed to tabling the Social Media Responsibility Act – legislation that would make Nova Scotia the first province to set a minimum age of 16 for social media use, following the lead of countries like Australia and Norway.
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The bill comes at a time when experts and parents alike are sounding the alarm on the mental health crisis facing young people, with mounting evidence showing how social media contributes to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
A 2023 study from the U.S. Surgeon General warned that youth who use social media for more than three hours per day have double the risk of poor mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety.
“Protecting our kids from the harms of social media is a responsibility we all share,ˮ said Rankin.
“This bill will ensure that children under 16 are not exposed to harmful content or interactions that can have life-long impacts on their mental health.
“As a father myself, I know how critical it is that we put our childrenʼs well-being first. If we want Nova Scotia to be the best place in Canada to raise a family, this is a positive step in making that happen.”
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The Liberals were asked if they were aware that one social media platform that many Haligonians are currently using, Bluesky, doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to do age verification and don’t plan to install any. That would make that platform unavailable in N.S. should the bill pass.
“If this bill passes, all social media platforms — including BlueSky — would need to adapt in order to comply with the new minimum age requirement,” the party said in answering the question.
“We’ve seen this happen in other jurisdictions. For example, YouTube adapted its platform in Australia when similar legislation passed.
“We hope that if more jurisdictions act on this, platforms like BlueSky will follow suit and make the necessary changes.”
The party was also asked how would social media platforms be able to verify a person’s age to allow them on it.
“Other jurisdictions have already introduced age verification requirements and platforms have adapted using a variety of methods,” answered the party. “Some use AI, while others rely on identity verification or parental consent tools.
“The exact approach would be up to the platforms themselves, but there are existing models that show this can be done effectively.”
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Meanwhile, HRM spokesperson Jake Fulton answered questions on how a bill such as this if it passes would impact the municipality. HRM has recently made the move from X (formerly twitter) to Bluesky to relay information to its residents.
“The municipality uses a range of tools, channels and platforms to share information and receive feedback from residents, including: other social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube), 311, our mass notification system (hfxALERT), RSS feeds, public service announcements, applications, our online community engagement platform (shapeyourcityhalifax.ca), and our website (halifax.ca),” said Fulton.
He said more information is available at: halifax.ca/home/stay-informed
Fulton said If the legislation moves forward, the municipality would carefully review it and consult with key partners on potential impacts before making any decisions.
“Our focus would be on understanding what it means for the municipality and how we can continue to share important information with residents in a timely manner,” he said.
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Jenna Poste, a tech executive, mom of two, and co-founder of the Nova Scotia chapter of Unplugged Canada works with parents and industry experts to urge governments nationwide to take action to protect children from the harmful effects of early smartphone use and social media exposure.
Drawing on her experience in the tech industry, Poste advocates for policy changes that prioritize children’s mental health and well-being.
“This is a crucial step forward in protecting children online,ˮ said Poste. “Parents across the country are calling for action, and this is exactly the kind of leadership we need.
“Nova Scotia is recognizing the real and urgent harms social media is having on youth mental health and creating a model for others to follow.”
Poste was on hand with Rankin when he made the announcement in Halifax.
