New Brunswick premier calls for national social media ban for children under 16

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has called on the federal government to prohibit children under 16 from using social media.

In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney that her office released Tuesday, Holt also asked the federal government to prevent social media companies from advertising to minors and from developing content “designed to prey on young people.”

The federal Liberals, meanwhile, are expected to table a bill Wednesday that includes the ban Holt had asked for.

In her letter dated June 5, she said that if the federal government doesn’t act fast enough, “New Brunswick is prepared to deploy the tools and legislative measures available within provincial jurisdiction to strengthen protections for children and youth online.”

At the legislature on Tuesday, Holt didn’t give specifics, telling reporters her government would use “tools available to us” to protect youth online if it needed to, but that a “national solution” would be better.

Later in the day, Holt’s office said in a statement the province is “actively examining what additional measures may be available if federal legislation does not adequately address the issue.” That includes consumer protection, privacy legislation, and education campaigns in schools.

For his part, federal Culture Minister Marc Miller, who is taking the lead on the legislation, said the government will take all reasonable measures to ensure kids are safe.

“It’s obvious why it’s a priority. Kids are dying,” he told reporters on Parliament Hill.

Federal ministers declined to give details about the bill Tuesday, saying parliamentary rules forbid legislators from releasing details of bills before they are introduced.

Representatives for Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2026.

— With files from Anja Karadeglija.

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press