The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the federal government to clarify what concrete measures are being taken to shield children under the age of 16 from potential harm linked to social media use.
The directive came in a written two-page order issued by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir while hearing a petition filed by the father of a minor child, identified as Shinwari. The petitioner argued that many countries around the world have introduced laws and regulatory frameworks to restrict or regulate social media access for children under 16 in order to protect them from online risks.
Taking up the matter, the court instructed the federal government to submit a detailed response by March 3. The government has been asked to outline the steps it has taken to minimize the harmful effects of social media on minors and to update the court on progress regarding the proposed establishment of a dedicated social media regulatory authority.
The IHC also directed the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to submit para-wise comments addressing the concerns raised in the petition. These institutions have been asked to explain the current framework for regulating and monitoring social media platforms, as well as to provide details on the implementation status of recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
In its order, the court sought clarity on whether any specific regulatory structure exists to govern social media usage by minors. It also asked authorities to explain what mechanisms, if any, are in place to verify or assess the age of children accessing online platforms.
Justice Tahir observed that safeguarding children from online harm is of paramount importance. The court emphasized that unchecked and unregulated use of social media poses serious risks to minors, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, exploitation, and privacy violations.
The order further noted concerns about the psychological and mental health impact of excessive or unsupervised social media use among children. The court highlighted that issues such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges have increasingly been associated with online activity. Additionally, it pointed out the risks to children’s privacy in the absence of strict regulatory oversight.
The High Court underscored the constitutional responsibility of the state to ensure the protection and welfare of children, calling for a clear policy response to address the growing challenges posed by digital platforms.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the federal government to clarify what concrete measures are being taken to shield children under the age of 16 from potential harm linked to social media use.
The directive came in a written two-page order issued by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir while hearing a petition filed by the father of a minor child, identified as Shinwari. The petitioner argued that many countries around the world have introduced laws and regulatory frameworks to restrict or regulate social media access for children under 16 in order to protect them from online risks.
Taking up the matter, the court instructed the federal government to submit a detailed response by March 3. The government has been asked to outline the steps it has taken to minimize the harmful effects of social media on minors and to update the court on progress regarding the proposed establishment of a dedicated social media regulatory authority.
The IHC also directed the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to submit para-wise comments addressing the concerns raised in the petition. These institutions have been asked to explain the current framework for regulating and monitoring social media platforms, as well as to provide details on the implementation status of recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
In its order, the court sought clarity on whether any specific regulatory structure exists to govern social media usage by minors. It also asked authorities to explain what mechanisms, if any, are in place to verify or assess the age of children accessing online platforms.
Justice Tahir observed that safeguarding children from online harm is of paramount importance. The court emphasized that unchecked and unregulated use of social media poses serious risks to minors, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, exploitation, and privacy violations.
The order further noted concerns about the psychological and mental health impact of excessive or unsupervised social media use among children. The court highlighted that issues such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges have increasingly been associated with online activity. Additionally, it pointed out the risks to children’s privacy in the absence of strict regulatory oversight.
The High Court underscored the constitutional responsibility of the state to ensure the protection and welfare of children, calling for a clear policy response to address the growing challenges posed by digital platforms.
