Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly Seeks Ban On Social Media Accounts For Children Under 16

Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution seeking an effective legal ban on social media accounts for children under 16, amid growing concerns over cyberbullying, online exploitation, harmful content and excessive screen use.

The resolution, moved by Punjab lawmaker and Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmad, calls on the federal government to introduce legislation restricting social media access for minors below 16. The opposition Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) also supported the resolution.

The proposal also calls for an effective age verification system across social media platforms to identify underage users. Reports indicate that the recommendations include provisions involving parental or legal guardian consent, alongside stronger requirements for platforms to follow child protection standards.

The resolution urges the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant institutions to develop mechanisms to enforce age restrictions and ensure platforms provide a safer digital environment for children. It also calls for harmful content to be addressed promptly and for awareness campaigns to educate parents, teachers and children about digital safety.

The Punjab Assembly said unrestricted social media access exposes minors to cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation, inappropriate content and psychological stress. It argued that protecting children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral development is a responsibility of the state.

The resolution also calls for coordination between federal and provincial institutions, recognising that regulation of telecommunications, internet services and major digital platforms largely falls under federal jurisdiction.

Punjab lawmakers pointed to measures adopted or considered in Australia, France, China and several US states as examples of efforts to impose stronger safeguards on children’s social media use. The move comes amid a wider international push for age verification and tougher online safety rules for minors.

However, the Punjab Assembly resolution does not itself impose an immediate nationwide ban. It asks Pakistan’s federal government to enact appropriate legislation and establish an enforcement framework before such restrictions can take effect.