The government is actively pursuing new regulations on children’s usage of social media amid increasing concerns about child exploitation and the spread of obscene content online, reported Geo News on September 17.

The Ministry of Interior plans to consult officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and federal and provincial police departments on measures including a minimum age for social media access and restrictions on platforms linked to harmful content. A stakeholder meeting will also review recent cases of child exploitation involving social media before policy decisions are made.

The move follows similar measures and proposals internationally. Australia restricted social media access for users under 16, while the European Commission proposed restrictions for children under 13.

In Pakistan, the Punjab Assembly recently passed a resolution advocating for a ban on social media accounts for children under the age of 16, a move initiated by treasury lawmaker Sarah Ahmad. The resolution calls on the federal government to implement an effective legal framework that includes parental consent and reliable age verification mechanisms.