The Islamabad High Court has asked the federal government to submit a detailed report on what steps are being taken to regulate social media use by children under the age of 16, highlighting growing concerns over online safety.
The order was issued by Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir while hearing a petition filed by a minor, Akbar Khan Shinwari, through his father. The petition calls for the enforcement of basic rights and seeks restrictions on social media access for underage users.
In its written order, the court noted that children’s well-being and protection from online harm must be taken as a serious matter. It added that unrestricted access to social media platforms can expose minors to risks such as cyberbullying, mental health problems, privacy violations and harmful content.
Notices were issued to the federal government, the Ministry of Information Technology, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). The court directed these bodies to submit para-wise comments and a detailed report by March 3.
The court has specifically asked for report about age-verification systems used by social media platforms and the steps taken to ensure compliance with age restrictions. It also sought information on how authorities supervise and enforce child safety measures online.
The government has also been asked to share details of any draft rules, proposed regulations or executive orders related to social media regulation for minors. The report must explain how monitoring and enforcement will work under the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, and how these measures align with the constitutional duty to protect children.
Additionally, the IHC requested an update on the proposed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, including the progress made so far and its expected role.