Pakistan is taking another step toward restricting social media use by children under 16, with fresh legal action seeking limits on platforms including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
A petition has been filed before the Islamabad High Court, asking authorities to prevent children below the age of 16 from using major social media platforms. The case highlights concerns about cyberbullying, harassment, blackmail, harmful content and online exploitation involving minors.
The petition is not an immediate nationwide ban. Instead, it asks the court to direct the government and relevant authorities to introduce measures that would stop under-16 users from creating or maintaining social media accounts.
A major part of the proposed approach is age verification. Rather than relying only on parents to monitor their children’s accounts, the petition calls for technology-based systems that can verify a user’s age and prevent minors from accessing restricted platforms.
The issue has already reached Parliament. A proposed measure discussed in Pakistan would restrict children under 16 from opening social media accounts without verified parental consent and would require stronger age-verification mechanisms.
The debate comes as several countries are introducing tougher rules for children’s online activity. Supporters of restrictions argue that young users need greater protection from addictive content, cyberbullying and online abuse. Critics, however, point to questions about privacy, enforcement and whether age restrictions can be effectively implemented.
For Pakistan, the latest petition could push the government to clarify how social media platforms should handle accounts belonging to children. If stronger rules are eventually approved, companies could face greater responsibility for checking users’ ages and protecting minors.
For now, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram have not been banned for children across Pakistan. The matter remains part of an ongoing legal and policy debate, and any nationwide restriction would require further government or court action.
