Official Hansard
I think I am bothering one of my colleagues. I hope it is not just because I am speaking French. Some countries are taking a bold approach. Others are waiting to see what kind of legislation is passed and may take their cue from what we do here. I am certainly not the only one who sees people my age in my circle of friends who go into a trance as soon as they open Instagram or TikTok, although that app is not as popular as it once was. Of course, there are also the short videos on Facebook. The tech giants understand human nature. They understand the weaknesses of the human mind, how our attention span works and, most importantly, how to keep us hooked. They know how to get our attention and feed us content that can make us lose all sense of time. I do not think there is a single person here who has not experienced this. In fact, many of the people who created these platforms admit that they too fall victim to their own tactics and this game. Our partners, our children, our friends—all are susceptible. The difference is that we are adults and we have free will. In theory, we are equipped to understand these dangers but, as with any addiction, it is difficult to break free, especially once we have lost track of time. Now, let us think about all the 12-year-old boys and girls who are just starting junior high. Their parents buy them a cellphone because they want to keep track of where they are going and because junior high brings with it a new kind of freedom. Parents also want to be able to contact their children. There are all sorts of good reasons for these kids to have cellphones. We are no longer talking about the old flip phones that no one wanted to send text messages on because it took too long. Kids can now get on the Internet with their phones. They have access to social media. There are apps to block social media, but let us be serious. Young people want a digital presence. It is important to point that out. We obviously have to keep up with the times. That is why Bill C-34 is so important. Digital communication is at now at the centre of our lives. If we do not regulate it, we are leaving young people to navigate these platforms alone, platforms where they may be exposed to cyber-bullying, content that is not age appropriate and mechanisms designed to keep them online into the wee hours of the morning. I remember when I was old enough to get my driver’s licence, I was told to save my money so that I could buy myself a car. A car does not come for free and it comes with rules. It is important to know how to navigate this digital world because, even though it may be intangible, there are still public health and safety issues to consider. There is also something that is not as easy to pick up on among young people: young people who isolate themselves, who become withdrawn and whose mental health could be affected by online pressure and interactions. When I talk about interactions, I think about the fact that every second we are in front of a screen adds up. Screen time could even take the place of time spent sleeping. We also know that the amount of time spent doing physical activity and being physically present with others is decreasing. We all know that sedentary lifestyles can be harmful to physical health. In addition, online pressure and interactions can take a heavy toll on mental health. These effects are real and cannot be ignored. The pandemic reminded us just how much young people need to interact with others in order to learn to socialize. When so many of our interactions are happening only online, socialization becomes more difficult and some people may withdraw into themselves. I am sure that my very attentive colleagues agree. We must learn from what is happening now and help both current and future generations develop a healthy relationship with digital tools without becoming dependent on them. On social media, young people see digitally enhanced bodies and carefully curated lives. Success often appears effortless, but comparing ourselves to those images can leave us feeling that we are not attractive enough, popular enough or successful enough. In fact, a study of just over 21,000 youth aged 10 to 17 in six countries, including Canada, found that 55% were dissatisfied with their appearance. One could argue that not many of us are satisfied, but dissatisfaction tends to increase as time spent on social media increases. We already use this approach for other products. For instance, tobacco advertising, packaging and warnings are regulated. The same goes for cannabis. There is a minimum age, and marketing aimed at young people is tightly restricted. With social media, the risks are different, but the principle is the same: Protect people and prevent harm through regulations. Limiting young people’s access is therefore a public health measure, not arbitrary control. We need to make that distinction. We in the Bloc Québécois think it is normal and preferable for laws to adapt quickly to technological changes. Our laws are lagging far behind, and this gap must be closed to keep up with the accelerating pace of AI. Even the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for rules to protect children across all social media. These are the rules we are being called upon to discuss and debate as we study Bill C-34. I hope that the discussions will be very constructive once the bill passes this stage and that the committee will come up with effective measures to keep our young people on the right track. What rules should we bring in to regulate social media and protect young people? Which level of government within the Canadian federation has the jurisdiction to address this challenge? These are questions that need to be asked as this bill proposes a federal regulatory framework for social media and chatbots. This bill would also impose a number of duties on digital platforms, including a duty to protect minors and to make certain content inaccessible. This will, in fact, help to educate parents. The bill places obligations on these platforms, including requirements to remove content depicting sexual victimization and non-consensual intimate images. It proposes a range of principles, obligations and enforcement mechanisms aimed at holding digital platforms accountable, protecting minors and ensuring online safety. The Bloc Québécois supports these objectives and sees the positive side of a number of the principles and proposed solutions. However, each of these measures will require careful examination. I repeat that, in committee, I hope we will ensure that our decisions are guided by science, facts and research, and not simply guided by assumptions or, I dare say, partisan politics. As the Bloc Québécois has always maintained, we must also ensure that the federal government does not encroach on areas of jurisdiction that belong to Quebec and the provinces. In conclusion, in 2024 and 2025, Quebec’s National Assembly established a Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People’s Health and Development. Let us draw on the work of our counterparts to ensure a healthy digital environment for our young people.
