A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court asking the federal government to introduce laws that regulate social media use by children under 16 years of age. The petitioners want an effective age-verification system so that minors cannot create or run social media accounts without proper checks.
They argue that children face growing risks online, including cyberbullying, harassment, sexual exploitation, harmful content, psychological stress and digital addiction. The petition calls for a clear policy that protects children’s digital rights, privacy, and mental and physical safety. It also wants social media platforms to take clear responsibility for keeping minors safe online and to remove harmful material quickly.
The lawyers have pointed to similar steps already taken or planned in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Spain, where age limits, parental consent and verification systems are being used. They also refer to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, saying the state has a legal duty to protect the best interests of children.
The petition names several government bodies as respondents, including the Ministry of Information Technology, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and others. Earlier, a resolution in the Punjab Assembly had also called for a ban on social media accounts for children under 16 without parental consent.
The court has been asked to direct the government to create proper laws and an institutional system that safeguards children in the digital world.
