LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution recommending a legal ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16, citing concerns over cyberbullying, harmful content and other online risks.
The resolution, moved by Punjab Assembly member Sarah Ahmad, calls on the federal government to introduce legislation restricting children under 16 from maintaining social media accounts. The measure is a recommendation for legislation rather than an immediate ban.
Resolution Calls for Age Verification
Sarah Ahmad said protecting children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral development was a responsibility of the state.
According to the resolution, excessive social media use can expose children to cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content, psychological stress and other potential harms.
The resolution calls on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to introduce an effective age-verification system across social media platforms.
It also recommends requiring social media companies to take prompt action against harmful content and provide a safer digital environment for younger users.
Digital Safety Campaigns Proposed
The resolution referred to measures introduced in countries including Australia, France, China and the United States to regulate or restrict minors’ access to social media, arguing that Pakistan also needs stronger safeguards for children online.
It called on federal and provincial institutions to launch digital awareness campaigns for parents, teachers and children focusing on safer internet use.
The resolution further recommended greater coordination between federal and provincial authorities and effective legislation aimed at strengthening online protections for children.