Online harms now the top threat to Canadian children, report says

Online harms are now the leading threat facing children in Canada, ahead of bullying, poverty and child abuse, according to a new report.

Children First Canada says its annual report marks the first time online harms have appeared in the top 10 list of threats. It says children are encountering AI toys and algorithm-driven content before they learn to read.

The report identifies risks in online spaces including cyberbullying, child luring, sexual extortion, AI-facilitated abuse and mental-health impacts.

It says last year’s shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., was a defining moment in Canada’s online-safety debate. Dozens of lawsuits have focused on the shooter’s use of ChatGPT.

Children First Canada is calling on the federal government to strengthen and pass the digital safety bill it introduced earlier this year.