The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an effective legal ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16, with the aim of protecting minors from growing online risks. The resolution was moved by government lawmaker and Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, Sarah Ahmed.
The resolution calls on the federal government to introduce effective legislation to protect children from the potential harms associated with unrestricted social media use. It also demands the establishment of a coordinated mechanism between federal and provincial institutions so that policies concerning children’s online safety can be implemented effectively.
The resolution highlights concerns over cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate and harmful content, online sexual exploitation, psychological stress and other digital threats faced by children. It emphasizes that protecting children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral well-being is an important responsibility of the state.
It also recommends introducing an effective age-verification system on social media platforms to prevent children below the prescribed age from creating accounts. Relevant institutions, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), have been urged to play their role, while social media companies would be expected to strengthen child-safety measures and take timely action against harmful content.
The resolution further stresses the need to educate parents, teachers and children about digital safety, responsible internet use and the potential dangers of social media. It also refers to measures adopted in countries and jurisdictions including Australia, France, China and some US states regarding social media access for minors.
However, the resolution itself does not immediately impose a nationwide ban on social media accounts for under-16s. Rather, it calls for further legislation and coordinated administrative measures to turn the proposal into an enforceable legal framework.
