The Lahore High Court (LHC) on October 15 sought assistance from the Attorney General of Pakistan and the Advocate General of Punjab on a petition seeking a ban on social media use by children under 16.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum heard the petition filed by Alaiya Saleem and directed the two law officers to assist in the matter.

The petition highlights the prevalent use of social media among children under 16 in Pakistan and points out the lack of effective controls to restrict their access to these platforms. It argues that such unchecked usage can lead to adverse effects on young users and appeals to the court to instruct relevant Pakistani authorities to establish a comparable ban to shield children from potential detrimental impacts of social media engagement.

Citing international examples, the petitioner referred to measures adopted in countries including Australia, Brazil and Italy to restrict social media access for children.