By David Boles, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, St. Albert Gazette
April 20, 2026
Alberta schools and government officials are keeping a close eye on a potential federal social media ban for kids under 16.
The idea has gained traction since the federal Liberals passed a resolution at their party convention last week in Montreal to make 16 the minimum age for kids to access a social media account.
Culture Minister Marc Miller recently told The Canadian Pressthat the federal government is “very seriously” considering the ban.
Canada would be following in the footsteps of Australia, which became the first country to pass a law that enforced an age limit on social media platforms. Several other nations and governing bodies have since followed suite, including the European Union.
St. Albert Public Schools says in a statement that any policy that may lead to a reduction in classroom distractions and improve the mental health of students is welcome.
“If the federal government bans the use of social media for anyone under 16 years of age, as Australia has recently done, we would be interested in seeing the impact it might have on our students.”
In Alberta, the provincial government moved to ban cell phones in classrooms, with a ministerial mandate taking effect in September 2024.
In a statement, the Ministry of Technology and Information says it will be looking out for any developments on Ottawa and will respond accordingly to any policy released.
