Social media ban would need oversight through online harms bill: Carol Todd

By Canadian Press on February 3, 2026.

OTTAWA — Online safety advocate Carol Todd says a potential ban on social media for children would need oversight and monitoring of the tech industry.

Todd, whose daughter Amanda died by suicide after online sextortion, says the government needs to bring online harms legislation forward to ensure children are safe.

Todd appeared at a Parliamentary committee studying the effects of influencers and social media content on children and adolescents.

Sara Austin, founder of Children First Canada, told MPs the government must act quickly to table and pass an online safety bill.

The Liberal government recently confirmed it’s working on a bill to address online harms but has not said if it will ban social media ban youth, similar to policies enacted or underway in places like Australia and Spain.

The committee has heard from experts and advocates about how children face the risks of online sexual exploitation, while their time online is increasingly shaped by influencers and algorithms that determine what content they see.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 3, 2026.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press