Do You Support a Youth Social Media Ban?
Manitoba is considering introducing a social media ban for children and youth, which could also extend to AI chat bots.
What’s new: Premier Wab Kinew announced the proposed legislation this past weekend, the first province in Canada to do so, saying platforms are intentionally designed to get people “addicted to the infinite scroll.”
- Premier Kinew: “You have kids who are harming themselves. You have measles outbreaks in our province. All these things are because we’ve let social media dominate our lives without understanding how pernicious billionaires who designed this have been at targeting us and making us addicted to our phones.” (CTV)
- The first phase is expected to roll out in schools, building on the cell phone ban in classrooms introduced in 2024.
Why it matters: We’ve heard from physicians concerned about the impact of excessive screen time and social media use among children and youth, something research and experts are increasingly flagging as a major health risk.
- Chief Provincial Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, flagged the issue in the 2025 Health Status of Manitobans Report, noting a “growing challenge in youth mental health” linked to widespread and early social media use, with concerns about bullying, social comparison, and exclusion. Excessive screen time among youth is also associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.
- The U.S. Surgeon General issued a formal advisory calling social media’s impact on youth mental health an urgent public health concern requiring immediate action.
- The Canadian Paediatric Society has gone further, arguing it is no longer adequate to put the burden only on families, calling instead for platform safeguards and government standards.
Zoom out: Governments around the world, as well as the public, appear to be getting the message:
- Australia instructed a law requiring social media companies to prevent anyone under 16 from holding an account or face penalties.
- About 75% of Canadians support a full ban for those under 16 according to a national poll last March, a policy the federal government is also considering.
- Premier Kinew recognized the health impacts too: “Young people whose brains are still developing need to be protected from the really damaging impacts, particularly at a time of your life where you are figuring out who you are.” (CTV)
Yes, but: There are concerns about how effective bans can be, including how a small province like Manitoba could enforce this, and in Australia where they have early experience with a ban.
What do you think? Take our quick survey to share your views as a physician about a social media and AI chatbot ban for youth, and other guardrails that could be considered too.