Pakistan weighs curbs on social media access for under-16s

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is again weighing restrictions on social media use by minors, with a fresh Punjab Assembly resolution urging the federal government to bar children under 16 from opening accounts without verified parental consent.

The move, introduced by Punjab lawmaker Sarah Ahmad, who heads the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, is part of a wider debate over how to shield children from harmful online material, cyberbullying and heavy screen use. The resolution asks the federal government to legislate four steps: preventing under-16s from creating social media accounts without verified parental approval, requiring a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority-enforced age verification system, obliging platforms to quickly remove harmful content, and launching awareness drives for parents and teachers.

Because telecommunications and internet regulation fall under the federal domain, the Punjab Assembly measure is not binding and would require federal legislation to take effect nationwide. The report says this is the latest in a string of efforts over the past year in parliament and the courts that have yet to produce enforceable law.

Previous attempts in parliament

The Senate had already taken up the issue twice. In July 2025, it introduced the Social Media (Age Restriction for Users) Bill 2025, which sought to prohibit under-16s from using platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. The proposed law also included fines of up to Rs5 million for platforms that failed to comply, prison terms for adults who helped minors open accounts, and powers for the PTA to remove existing underage accounts.

That bill was later withdrawn after objections from stakeholders who considered the age threshold and punishments too strict. Senators had said a revised and less rigid version would be prepared, but the report says it did not return. The matter resurfaced on January 16, 2026, through a calling-attention notice in the Senate, this time with some lawmakers suggesting restrictions for under-18s instead of under-16s. The government's response was to propose setting up a committee, and no formal bill followed.

Cases pending in courts

The courts have also examined the issue. In Lahore, an eighth-grade student filed a petition that led Chief Justice Aalia Neelum to direct a law officer to obtain government instructions and submit them by mid-February. The report says no public result from that hearing has since emerged.

In Islamabad, a separate petition by a 12-year-old prompted the Islamabad High Court to order the PTA and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to submit a report by March 3 on age-verification arrangements and progress on a proposed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority. When nobody appeared at the hearing, the case was adjourned until April 20. Neither case has yet produced a public resolution.

Global debate and enforcement concerns

The report notes that countries have taken different paths on social media age limits. Australia has adopted one of the hardest positions by banning social media accounts for under-16s and making platforms responsible for stopping underage access through age-assurance tools. Indonesia and Malaysia have also moved toward tougher limits, while China has gradually tightened minors' access to digital platforms over several years.

Other countries have opted for less sweeping restrictions. Brazil has favoured stronger parental involvement and age checks rather than a full ban, while several European states are still considering similar laws. France's proposal has come under examination from the European Commission over whether it fits with European Union law. The report places Pakistan among countries such as India, Germany, Canada and Nigeria where the issue remains under discussion.

Social development activist Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, who has worked on digital policy, questioned whether a hard cutoff would work effectively in Pakistan. He said that without a strong age-verification system that also protects privacy, children could bypass restrictions through false age claims, VPNs or shared accounts. He argued that account bans may limit access for some users but would not deal with the underlying problems of cyberbullying, harmful content and overuse, and could instead drive minors to platforms with weaker oversight. In his view, the more useful response would be stronger platform responsibility, age-appropriate design, parental controls and better digital literacy.