Discussion · Government Orders
Garnett Genuis Conservative
“We all agree that online harm hurts young people and social media companies must be held responsible. Our committee needs to see if this bill actually works. It looks like it changes how platforms are designed rather than banning young people or requiring parents' permission. I want the member to tell me if that is correct.”
“Madam Speaker, my hon. friend spent a lot of time talking about the problem, and I completely agree with his description of the problem. There is going to be no disagreement in the House that we have a serious problem with what happens online and the effects it has on young people, that we need action and that this action has to include real accountability for platforms and actors for the things they are responsible for. The work we will do at committee on this bill specifically will be to study the government’s proposed solution to see whether it is fit for purpose. One of the questions I have, I asked earlier, and I wonder if the member has thoughts on it. The bill does not appear to be an age ban, which was initially proposed. I think it proposes to require certain adaptations or changes to design features, ultimately with the idea that the social media platforms that exist could continue to offer youth accounts. There would not be a requirement, for instance, for parental consent for those youth accounts. Can the member tell me whether my reading of the legislation is correct, or does he see the bill as being an age ban, as some have proposed?”
Madam Speaker, my hon. friend spent a lot of time talking about the problem, and I completely agree with his description of the problem. There is going to be no disagreement in the House that we have a serious problem with what happens online and the effects it has on young people, that we need action and that this action has to include real accountability for platforms and actors for the things they are responsible for. The work we will do at committee on this bill specifically will be to study the government’s proposed solution to see whether it is fit for purpose. One of the questions I have, I asked earlier, and I wonder if the member has thoughts on it. The bill does not appear to be an age ban, which was initially proposed. I think it proposes to require certain adaptations or changes to design features, ultimately with the idea that the social media platforms that exist could continue to offer youth accounts. There would not be a requirement, for instance, for parental consent for those youth accounts. Can the member tell me whether my reading of the legislation is correct, or does he see the bill as being an age ban, as some have proposed?