Manitobans react to new survey about social media regulations for children
Posted March 31, 2026 5:11 pm.
After Australia became the first country to ban social media for kids at the end of 2025, the Angus Reid Institute reported Monday that 75 per cent of Canadians agree and that Canada should ban social media for people under the age of 16.
“Banning it until they’re 16, I think that’s the right decision. I mean, I don’t think the brains are fully developed enough to have that kind of reasoning,” said Roxanne Tetrault, a school administrator, who says she’s seen the impact social media has on kids firsthand.
Her 17-year-old daughter, Mylene, has been using social media since she was 12, and she remembers how she would feel when facing cyberbullying.
“disappointing. And insecure too. I had a lot of insecurities at a young age. But you know, growing up, you decide to ignore all of that and just be yourself,” Mylene explained.
Isabella Phommarath, 20, said that Australia is one of the places she’d like to move to someday based on its laws and regulations. The U of M student says that she’s been on social media since she was 14 and that she’s had her fair share of struggles online.
“There were a couple of times where I fell for scams, or older men were being creepy. And at one point, somebody hacked my account and was posting inappropriate things on there,” said Phommarath.
But some Manitobans think that allowing teens on social media can be manageable.
“I think it should be up to the discretion of the parent. I think some kids are mature enough and are able to handle cellphones under the age of 16, and some just should not have it,” said Mark Steininger.
But Steininger, a father of three daughters, recognizes the dangers that come with being active online.
“I just think the thought of catfishing and dudes in their parents’ basement in their underwear trying to corral young ladies and young boys who don’t have a lot of experience and don’t really know how to defend themselves against it, that would be my biggest fear,” said Steininger.
