Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has announced plans to ban social media and AI chatbots for the province's youth. The proposal comes amid broader discussions in Canada about restricting children's access to these platforms. Details on age limits and enforcement remain unclear.
At a fundraiser event on Saturday, Wab Kinew declared that Manitoba would implement a ban on social media and AI chatbots targeting its youth. Speaking to supporters, he criticized platforms for harming children in pursuit of profits. 'They're doing these very awful things to kids all in the name of a few likes, all in the name of more engagement, and all in the name of money,' Kinew said. 'Our kids will never be for sale and their attention and their childhoods should never be profited from.' He also shared the announcement on X, formerly Twitter. Kinew did not provide specifics on the age cutoff, timeline for introduction, or enforcement methods, according to reports from the event. He declined to speak with reporters afterward, CBC noted. The move positions Manitoba as potentially the first Canadian province to enact such a restriction. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party of Canada endorsed limits on social media and AI chatbots for those under 16 at its recent national convention in Montreal. Other federal and provincial initiatives seek similar curbs, including one targeting users under 14. A Molly Rose Foundation poll, however, suggests bans may face challenges, with most teens accessing restricted platforms despite laws elsewhere.
