Online harms are the biggest threat to Canadian children, new report finds

A new report has revealed that online harms are now the greatest threat facing children in Canada, according to Children First Canada. The organization is urging the Canadian government to pass a stronger Safe Social Media Act this fall to address the issue. For the first time in the report's history, online harms have become the top concern for children's rights to health, safety, and protection from violence.

Children First Canada CEO Sara Austin emphasized that online harms now affect children of all ages, from infancy through adolescence, impacting their brain development, mental health, physical activity, and play. Canada ranks 22nd out of 37 high-income countries on the UNICEF Child Wellbeing Index and 72nd out of 194 countries on the 2026 KidsRights Index due to these online threats.

The Canadian Center for Child Protection has seen a 347% increase in reports of online child sexual exploitation over the past decade. Austin advised parents and caregivers to engage in open conversations with their children about their online activities, setting new rules and being vigilant about the time spent online. Natalia Kubiak, a mother of young triplets, shared her concerns about balancing technology use and supporting her children in navigating the digital world safely.

Kubiak supports the Safe Social Media Act, which would require social media companies to restrict children under 16 from their platforms, although it will not extend to AI chatbot platforms.