A resolution has been submitted in the Punjab Assembly seeking restrictions on social media access for children under the age of 16 and calling for legislation to protect minors from online harm, it was reported on Tuesday.
The resolution urges the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to develop an effective regulatory and monitoring system governing social media use by children.
It also calls for legal measures requiring age verification before minors can create or use social media accounts.
Sarah Ahmed, chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, said the proposed measures were intended to provide children with a safer and more positive digital environment.
“Every child should be provided with a safe childhood and a secure digital future,” Ahmed said.
She said the state had a constitutional and moral responsibility to protect children from cyberbullying, online exploitation, harmful content and other risks associated with social media.
The resolution recommends that authorities introduce a reliable age-verification mechanism and establish clear rules for social media platforms operating in Pakistan.
It also calls for monitoring arrangements to prevent children under 16 from accessing platforms without appropriate safeguards.
The resolution cites laws and age restrictions introduced in countries including Australia, France and China, as well as in several U.S. states, to regulate social media use by minors.
It argues that similar legislation is needed in Pakistan in view of international efforts to strengthen online protections for children.
