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Social media platforms, app stores at odds over who should enforce social media bans
Platforms and app stores are fighting over age checks as Canada joins countries that have already moved to restrict under-16 access, experts said.
- On Wednesday, the federal government announced that social media companies must eventually block access to their platforms for Canadian users under 16 unless they implement yet-to-be-defined safeguards.
- Platforms like Snapchat and Meta argue app stores should verify ages rather than individual apps, but Apple and Google maintain their own age-gating measures, creating ongoing tension.
- Google senior director Kareem Ghanem criticized the proposal as "advancing policy proposals that demonstrate more interest in shifting responsibility than in taking responsibility."
- Sociology professor Kaitlynn Mendes warns enforcement is difficult; 70 per cent of users under 16 kept accounts after Australia's ban despite restrictions.
- The United Kingdom, France, Poland, and Indonesia are pursuing similar bans, though Jenna Poste of Unplugged Canada argues neither platforms nor app stores can gate-keep effectively alone.
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6 Articles
6 Articles
The Toronto Star+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Social media platforms, app stores at odds over who should enforce social media bans
As countries including Canada move toward social media bans in an attempt to keep youths safe online, tech companies are in a tug of war over who should be the
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left, 50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 50%
C 50%
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