No Social Media Under 16? Punjab Assembly Pushes for New Law

The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for legislation to prevent children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts.

Moved by government MPA Sarah Ahmed, the resolution urged the federal government to introduce a legal framework restricting social media access for under-16s and establishing stronger safeguards for children online.

The assembly has also called on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to develop an effective age-verification mechanism for social media platforms. The proposed system would be designed to verify users’ ages and prevent children below 16 from opening or maintaining accounts.

Lawmakers said the state has a responsibility to protect children’s physical, mental, psychological, and moral well-being, particularly as social media exposure continues to grow.

The resolution highlighted several risks faced by children online, including cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content. It also raised concerns over mental stress and other problems associated with excessive social media use.

Social media platforms urged to protect children

The Punjab Assembly also called for greater responsibility from social media companies, urging them to take steps to prevent harmful content from reaching children and provide a safer digital environment for young users.

The resolution referred to regulatory measures adopted in countries including Australia, France, China, and the United States, saying Pakistan should also introduce legislation to strengthen protections for children online.

Alongside legal restrictions, lawmakers called for digital awareness campaigns involving federal and provincial institutions. These initiatives would educate parents, teachers and children about responsible internet use, online risks and digital safety.

The assembly also stressed the need for greater coordination between federal and provincial authorities to establish a comprehensive system for protecting children in the digital space.

However, the resolution itself does not immediately impose a ban on children under 16 using social media. Any such restriction would require the federal government and Parliament to introduce and pass the necessary legislation.

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