Ottawa is planning to propose a ban on social media for children under 16 as part of an online harms bill to be introduced Wednesday, but platforms that meet new safety standards may be able to opt back in, according to a source familiar with the forthcoming bill.

The long-awaited online harms bill is expected to also include a requirement for companies to mitigate harmful content.

This would include action to deal with artificial-intelligence chatbots that advocates have been calling on the government to regulate.

The Globe and Mail is not naming the source as they are not authorized to speak publicly about the bill.

The bill is also expected to revive requirements on platforms in previous versions of the bill to swiftly remove child sexual abuse material, and posts encouraging children to self harm.