Senator Hay Consults Youth on Bill C-34 Social Media Age
Senator Katherine Hay gathered student feedback on proposed legislation at a Toronto digital wellness festival.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Youth
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Senator Katherine Hay met with high school students to discuss Bill C-34, which proposes a 16-year-old minimum age requirement for social media use. The discussion took place during the Rally digital wellness festival at Meridian Hall.
Why it matters
The proposed legislation aims to increase accountability for technology companies regarding youth safety. By engaging students directly, Senator Hay seeks to incorporate youth perspectives into the framework of the pending bill.
Bill C-34 proposes a 16-year-old minimum age for social media use and includes a commission for regulatory compliance. The Rally festival drew approximately 2,700 attendees representing nearly 60 schools from the Greater Toronto Area.
The players
Senator Katherine Hay
A Canadian senator and the former CEO of Kids Help Phone who is sponsoring Bill C-34.
Minister Marc Miller
A Canadian cabinet minister who is set to receive a report on student perspectives regarding the proposed social media legislation.
The details
During a closed-door session at the festival, Senator Hay collected student feedback that she plans to compile into a report for Minister Marc Miller. The legislation is designed to ensure social media platforms and AI technologies adhere to stricter safety regulations for minors.
Timeline
Wednesday, October 14, 2026: The Rally festival and the student discussion with Senator Hay occurred at Meridian Hall.
Culture Shift
This move reflects the growing societal push to regulate youth digital environments and hold platforms accountable for child safety. It marks a departure from earlier industry self-regulation toward stricter government oversight in the digital space.
Canadian families with teenagers may see changes in how social media access is managed if the 16-year-old age limit becomes law. Students participating in the discussion had the opportunity to influence federal regulations that could alter their daily online habits.
The takeaway
The engagement between lawmakers and students underscores the importance of involving youth in policies that directly affect their online experiences. Families should stay informed as the legislation moves toward the Senate for further review.
Further reading
Learn more about local trends and policy impacts by visiting the Youth section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BetaKit.
Live Poll
Should the government implement a social media ban for all individuals under 16 years old?
