Kids under 14 should be banned from social media unless parents consent, Quebec committee says
Youth under the age of 14 should not be able to open social media accounts without their parents' consent, a cross-party committee at Quebec's National Assembly has recommended.
The Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People's Health and Development has been studying the effects of screens on young people over the past year.
On Thursday, the committee submitted a lengthy final report to the National Assembly, containing no fewer than 56 recommendations.
The report makes broad appeals to parents, who should, in particular: set a good example when it comes to screen time, avoid exposing their children to screens before bedtime, and avoid using screens to calm or distract their children.
As indicated in its interim report submitted last April, the committee also recommends banning cellphones throughout the school, including on school grounds, starting in September.
Education Minister Bernard Drainville welcomed this recommendation with 'great openness and interest.' The government has already banned cellphones and other mobile devices in classrooms since January 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 27, 2025.
By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
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