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Jesse Kline: Mark Carney wants to raise your kids

Social media causes serious harms in youth, but the proposed online harms bill will be worse

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Like the turn of the century’s indoor smoking bans, prohibitions against youth social media use seem almost inevitable, with many countries, including Canada, looking to follow the example set by Australia last year. But in many ways, having boomer and gen X politicians regulating the online behaviour of a generation that’s grown up in the digital era feels like dinosaurs trying to control the climate.

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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals are widely expected to introduce a new version of their online harms bill that will attempt to regulate the social media use of Canadians under 16 years of age.

Jesse Kline: Mark Carney wants to raise your kids Back to video

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It’s an idea that sounds good in theory, and generally has high levels of support. As a semi-reformed techno-optimist, I’ll be the first to admit that the internet has not lived up to its potential.

Rather than vibrant forums for public debate, social media is dominated by shouting matches and flame wars. Rather than informing the masses, it’s spreading conspiracy theories and radicalizing youth. Rather than bringing people together, it encourages social........

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