Pakistan is considering stronger measures to regulate children’s access to social media, with a petition before the Islamabad High Court calling for legislation to restrict users under the age of 16 from accessing major platforms.
The petition seeks measures that would prevent children below 16 from creating or using accounts on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. It also calls for stronger age-verification systems to ensure that users meet the required age limit.
The proposed measures come amid growing concerns about online risks faced by children. These include cyberbullying, harassment, blackmail, exploitation and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.
The petition also seeks greater involvement from parents through stronger parental-control mechanisms. At the same time, social media companies could face increased responsibility for protecting younger users and preventing harmful material from reaching children.
The latest legal development has also brought attention back to the proposed Social Media (Age Limit for Users) Bill, 2025. The proposed legislation had sought to restrict children under 16 from creating social media accounts.
The debate reflects growing concerns in Pakistan about how children use online platforms and whether existing safeguards are sufficient to protect them. Supporters of stricter regulations argue that stronger age checks and parental oversight could help reduce risks for younger users.
However, any new restrictions would also raise questions about implementation, privacy, enforcement and how platforms could reliably verify the age of users.
The petition is expected to be taken up by the Islamabad High Court next month. Its proceedings could provide further direction on the proposed restrictions and the government’s approach to online child safety.
As social media becomes increasingly common among young people, the discussion is likely to continue around finding a balance between digital access, personal freedom and stronger protection for children online.
