Pakistan Social Media Resolution: Ban Under 16 Urged

Pakistan- (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – The Punjab social media resolution has opened a fresh debate in Pakistan about how young children should be allowed to use the internet. A lawmaker from the Punjab Assembly has asked the federal government to place strict limits on social media accounts for anyone under the age of 16. The move follows growing worries about how unsupervised online access affects children’s mental health and safety.

The resolution was tabled by Punjab Assembly member Sara Ahmed. It does not become law on its own. Instead, it asks the provincial government to formally request that Pakistan’s Parliament pass a national law. This is because rules about telecom services and online platforms fall under federal, not provincial, control.

Pakistan currently has no official age limit for social media use. Any child, regardless of age, can open an account on most platforms with little to no checks. This gap has raised alarm among parents, teachers, and child rights groups across the country.

The push for a social media ban under 16 in Pakistan is not happening in isolation. Several countries have already taken similar steps. Australia was the first nation to stop children under 16 from holding social media accounts, and that law came into effect in December last year. The United Kingdom is preparing a similar move. The European Union is also studying age-based rules for young users.

Sara Ahmed’s resolution points out those risks in clear terms. It states that protecting children’s mental and moral growth is both a legal and moral duty of the state. The document lists cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and online exploitation as serious dangers facing minors today.

Beyond the age limit itself, the resolution asks for more. It wants the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, known as PTA, to build a working system for checking users’ ages online. It also calls for rules requiring parental consent before a child can create an account. Active supervision by parents and guardians is another key point raised in the text.

Technology companies are not left out either. The resolution asks these platforms to add stronger safety tools against harmful content. It also pushes for awareness campaigns aimed at parents and teachers, helping them guide children through safe internet use.

If Punjab’s Assembly approves this resolution, it will still only carry the weight of an official recommendation. It cannot force any changes on its own. The final decision on a nationwide law rests entirely with Pakistan’s Parliament, since matters of telecommunication and digital platforms sit under federal authority.

Even so, many see this as an important step. It adds Pakistan’s voice to a widening global conversation. Around the world, governments are trying to strike a balance between children’s online freedom and their safety. Whether Pakistan follows Australia’s strict approach or takes a softer path remains to be seen.

For now, parents across Punjab and beyond are watching closely. Many hope this resolution leads to real action, not just words on paper. As digital life becomes a bigger part of every child’s day, the call for clear rules is growing louder across the country.