How would Ottawa be able to age verify social media users?

In June, the Canadian federal government introduced Bill C-34, which would require social media platforms to block access for children under 16. However, the specific methods for age verification have yet to be determined. Culture Minister Marc Miller mentioned that there will be discussions with platforms regarding privacy protection and the adequacy of the measures.

Various countries worldwide are implementing or considering age restrictions on social media, including the United Kingdom and France. The UK plans to ban kids under 16, while France approved a ban for children under 15, though the Constitutional Council later struck down the ban due to concerns over privacy and freedom of expression.

Other countries like Australia have age restrictions for social media, but these measures have faced challenges, with some children retaining accounts despite the ban. In December 2025, Australia introduced a law requiring platforms to take steps to prevent kids under 16 from using their services, though gaps remain. According to Australia's online safety commissioner, a significant number of children retain accounts after the ban, and facial age estimation technology, commonly used for age verification, has higher error rates for children close to the age limit.

Andrew MacDougall, a senior policy fellow at McGill University, suggests that Canada should learn from Australia's experience and set its own standard for age verification. The UK's Online Safety Act offers seven methods of age verification, including facial age estimation, digital ID, credit card verification, and email-based age estimation.

While no single method is perfect, MacDougall advises that policymakers should not expect any single method to be foolproof. The report highlights that methods relying on existing relationships, like a bank or credit card, are straightforward but may not be accessible to all users. Facial age estimation, while convenient, can be circumvented and involves sensitive biometric data.

Canada has shown resistance to a government-issued digital ID, despite its potential benefits, as it could face political opposition. The U.K.'s enforcement record and Australia's early experience with a social media age ban suggest that compliance is possible but heavily dependent on platform cooperation and regulatory capacity.