The Punjab Assembly has called for federal legislation, age verification and stronger safeguards to protect children from online risks.
The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for legislation to prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts, while urging stronger measures to protect young users online.
The resolution, moved by government MPA Sarah Ahmed, called on the federal government to establish a legal framework restricting social media access for children under 16 and introducing safeguards aimed at protecting their physical and psychological well-being.
The assembly also urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to develop an effective age-verification mechanism for social media platforms. The proposed system would verify users’ ages and prevent children below 16 from opening or maintaining accounts.
Lawmakers said the state has a responsibility to protect children from risks associated with growing social media exposure. The resolution cited concerns including cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, exposure to inappropriate content, mental stress and other problems linked to excessive social media use.
Social media platforms urged to strengthen child safety
The Punjab Assembly also called on social media companies to take greater responsibility for protecting children online. Lawmakers urged platforms to limit children’s exposure to harmful content and help create a safer digital environment for young users.
The resolution referred to regulatory measures adopted in countries including Australia, France, China and the United States, arguing that Pakistan should also consider legislation aimed at strengthening online protections for children.
In addition to potential legal restrictions, lawmakers called for digital awareness campaigns involving federal and provincial institutions. Such initiatives would focus on educating parents, teachers and children about responsible internet use, online risks and digital safety.
The assembly further stressed the importance of coordination between federal and provincial authorities to establish a comprehensive framework for child protection in the digital space.
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