LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution calling for a legal ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16, citing concerns over harmful online content and its impact on children’s mental and psychological well-being.
The resolution was moved in the provincial assembly on Tuesday by treasury lawmaker Sarah Ahmad.
Through the Punjab government, the resolution urged the federal government to introduce an effective legal framework restricting social media use by children under 16, while allowing access subject to parental or legal guardian consent and reliable age verification.
The resolution stressed that protecting children’s physical, mental, psychological and moral development was a responsibility of the state.
It also highlighted concerns over inappropriate and harmful content on social media platforms, saying such material could expose children to mental stress and other risks.
Punjab Assembly calls for social media age verification
The House recommended that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) direct social media platforms to introduce effective age-verification mechanisms to prevent children below the specified age from creating or accessing accounts.
The resolution further called for social media companies to comply with child protection standards, restrict harmful content promptly and create a safer digital environment for minors.
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It also urged relevant federal and provincial institutions to launch sustained awareness campaigns aimed at parents, teachers and children.
These campaigns, according to the resolution, should focus on digital safety, responsible internet use and the potential risks associated with unrestricted social media access.
Call for stronger online child protection
The Punjab Assembly also called for better coordination between federal and provincial institutions to strengthen the online protection of children.
The resolution stressed the need for effective legislation and coordinated mechanisms to address risks faced by minors on social media platforms.
The move comes amid growing concerns over children’s exposure to inappropriate online content, cyber risks and the potential impact of excessive social media use on their well-being.
