The Punjab Assembly just took a major step toward online child protection. Lawmakers tabled a landmark resolution. This resolution seeks to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. Consequently, it marks a significant push for digital safety in Pakistan’s most populous province.
Furthermore, the resolution outlines a clear path for implementing this social media ban. It calls on the federal government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take immediate action. Specifically, lawmakers want authorities to develop an effective regulatory and monitoring framework. This framework must enforce strict age restrictions across all platforms.
Therefore, the resolution explicitly recommends introducing a robust age verification system. This system will directly prevent children under 16 from creating or operating social media accounts.
Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmed strongly supports this initiative. She highlighted the sheer urgency of the measure. According to Ahmed, every child deserves both a safe childhood and a secure digital future.
Moreover, she stated that the state holds a constitutional and moral responsibility to protect minors. This duty includes shielding them from the harmful effects of the internet. By enforcing these rules, the state can protect children from cyberbullying, online exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Additionally, the resolution points to a growing international trend regarding digital safety. Several countries have already enacted similar legislation or age-based restrictions for minors. For instance, Australia, France, China, and various US states currently enforce these protective laws.
As a result, the resolution argues that Pakistan should follow suit. It urges the government to introduce effective legislation to safeguard the digital well-being of the youth. Ultimately, if the government adopts and implements these proposed measures, Punjab and the rest of the country will see much stricter controls on social media access for minors.
